The International Contact Dermatitis Research Group proposes a classification for the clinical presentation of contact allergy. The classification is based primarily on the mode of clinical presentation. The categories are direct exposure/contact dermatitis, mimicking or exacerbation of preexisting eczema, multifactorial dermatitis including allergic contact dermatitis, by proxy, mimicking angi...

© 2012 The Authors. doi: 10.2340/00015555-1296 Journal Compilation © 2012 Acta Dermato-Venereologica. ISSN 0001-5555 Periorbital dermatitis has an incidence of 3.9–4.8% (1). It is most commonly caused by contact allergy (54%) (direct contact 44% or airborne contact 10.2%), irritant contact dermatitis (CD) (9.1%) and atopic dermatitis (25%) (1). Metals are reported among the main causes of airbo...

Allergic contact dermatitis is increasingly being recognized as a disease that affects children in addition to adults. Historically, irritant contact dermatitis such as ‘diaper dermatitis’ was a frequent diagnosis made in children, while allergic contact dermatitis was not considered a significant disease in this age group. Clinicians may have attributed this to children’s lack of exposure to a...

MCI: methylchloroisothiazolinone MI: methylisothiazolinone INTRODUCTION Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MI/MCI) are broad-spectrum preservatives widely used in cosmetics and household and industrial products. It is well known that MI/MCI can cause allergic contact dermatitis with a spongiotic reaction pattern. Because of this reaction, restrictions have been placed on the...

Allergic contact dermatitis due to fragrances usually manifests as subacute or chronic dermatitis because fragrances are found in a wide range of products to which patients are repeatedly exposed. The typical patient is a middle-aged woman with dermatitis on her hands and face, although other sites may be affected depending on the allergen and the product in which it is found. The standard patc...

Propolis, also known as bee glue, is a substance collected by worker bees and it is used as a material for constructing and maintaining their beehives. It has been used topically and orally by humans for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the growing use of propolis has been paralleled by reports of allergic contact dermatitis as a reaction to the substance. Contact dermatitis with gene...

Allergic contact dermatitis is a T cell mediated, antigen-specific inflammatory reaction of the skin due to repeated epicutaneous exposure to antigens. Immunologically it is divided into 2 phases, induction and elicitation phase. During the first phase which is clinically silent, naïve T cells are activated and differentiate into antigen-specific memory T cells. During the elicitation phase, af...

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) may complicate the clinical course of atopic dermatitis (AD), and patch testing remains the criterion standard for diagnosing ACD. To date, there have been no guidelines or consensus recommendations on when and how to patch test individuals with AD. Failure to patch test when appropriate may result in overlooking an important and potentially curable complicatin...

Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a pungent odor that is widely used as a preservative in toiletries and cosmetics and in products for household and industrial use. Both formaldehyde itself and substances that can release it are a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis. This condition often becomes chronic, given that these allergens are found nearly everywhere and it is difficult for p...

Thrombocid® ointment (Lacer, Barcelona, Spain) is widely used in Spain and other countries for varicose veins and 22 hematomas. To our knowledge, there are no reported cases of allergic contact dermatitis following its use. Herein we present 23 two cases of allergic contact dermatitis to Thrombocid® ointment, owing to cetearyl alcohol.