glyceryl-monothioglycolate and Dermatitis--Allergic-Contact

Cosmetics for bleaching, waving/relaxing and dyeing hair contain well-known allergens, leading to a substantial number of cases of allergic contact dermatitis.. To compare the frequency of important contact allergens (i) between two distinct groups of exposed patients, and (ii) with previous surveillance data.. On the basis of data collected by the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK; www.ivkd.org) between 2007 and 2012 in 824 female hairdressers and 2067 female clients, the current spectrum of contact sensitization to ingredients of hair cosmetics, as contained in different pertinent series, is described.. A similar burden of sensitization as in previous analyses was observed, but with some increase in sensitization to oxidative hair dye components in clients. Some allergens mainly affected hairdressers, such as ammonium persulfate (18.7% positive) and glyceryl monothioglycolate (GMTG; still 4.7% positive, with a few cases also in young hairdressers, despite removal from the German market).. Hair dyes remain important contact allergens, despite various attempts by the cosmetic industry to introduce hair dyes with lower allergenic potential. The re-emergence of GMTG as an occupational allergen should be considered as a warning signal ('sentinel event') prompting close monitoring.

Topics: Adult; Allergens; Ammonium Sulfate; Beauty Culture; Cross Reactions; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Germany; Glycerides; Hair Dyes; Hair Preparations; Humans; Patch Tests; Prevalence; Young Adult

Allergic contact dermatitis is common in hairdressers because of their exposure to chemicals used in hair dyes and permanent wave solutions. Atopic individuals are known to have a higher prevalence of leaving the profession due to morbidity associated with hand eczema.. To assess which chemicals are responsible for allergic contact dermatitis in hairdressers and whether the prevalence is the same according to atopy status.. A total of 729 hairdressers who had been patch tested were retrospectively identified. Allergic reactions to relevant allergens from the extended European baseline series and hairdressing series were analysed against history of atopic eczema.. Of the total, 29.9% of patients had a current or past history of atopic eczema. The most frequent positive allergens from the European baseline series were nickel sulfate (32.1%) and p-phenylenediamine (19.0%) and from the hairdressing series were glyceryl monothioglycolate (21.4%) and ammonium persulfate (10.6%). There was no significant difference between people with or without a history of atopic eczema, except for fragrance mix I and nickel sulfate.. We present findings from the largest cohort of hairdressers patch tested from a single centre. It is necessary to patch test hairdressers with dermatitis, regardless of a history of atopy. Strategies to reduce prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis are required.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Allergens; Ammonium Sulfate; Cohort Studies; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Eczema; Female; Glycerides; Hair Preparations; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nickel; Occupational Exposure; Patch Tests; Phenylenediamines; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult

Topics: Adult; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Germany; Glycerides; Hair Preparations; Humans; Public Policy

Due to a high incidence of cases of (occupational) sensitization to glyceryl monothioglycolate (GMT), products containing this compound were withdrawn from the German market some 8 years ago.. We analyzed the data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology in Germany which included 1, 336 hairdressers who had been tested with GMT (1% in petrolatum) between 1992 and 1998.. The proportion of hairdressers reacting positively to GMT fell from initially 45% in 1992 to less than 20% in 1997 and 1998.. This most likely reflects the above-mentioned preventive action.

Topics: Allergens; Beauty Culture; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Germany; Glycerides; Humans; Incidence

Topics: Barbering; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Europe; Female; Glycerides; Hair Preparations; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Intradermal Tests; Irritants; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Occupational Exposure; Patch Tests