Contact dermatitis due to methyl methacrylate: uncommon and unwanted entity for dentists.

To cite: Prajapati P, Sethuraman R, Bector S, et al. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/bcr-2013200520 DESCRIPTION Derivatives of methacrylic acid showing strong sensitising properties are frequent causes of allergic contact dermatitis in dentists and dental technicians. Methyl methacrylate is used for fabrication of acrylic removable partial or complete dentures for edentulous patients. Dentists, especially prosthodontists, are repeatedly exposure to these chemicals during various clinical and laboratory procedures. The most frequent sensitisers include 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and methyl methacrylate. Allergies to acrylates in dental professionals presents as itching and rashes of the contact areas. Images in this case report involve a postgraduate student in the Department of Prosthodontics of our hospital, who developed contact dermatitis due to exposure to methyl methacrylate monomer. Initially small rashes which were pruritic in nature appeared on the dorsum of the hand (figure 1). After 1 h of exposure, there was swelling of all fingers with small vesicles all over. The next day the vesicles were ruptured and bleeding was observed from the ruptured sites (figure 2). On the third day there was skin peeling off the swollen fingers. The extension of the finger was difficult and painful due to swelling (figure 3).