glyceryl-monothioglycolate and Dermatitis--Contact

Topics: Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Epoxy Resins; Equipment Design; Gloves, Protective; Glycerides; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Methylmethacrylate; Methylmethacrylates

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Glycerides; Hair Preparations; Humans; Middle Aged; Protective Clothing

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Dermatitis, Contact; Female; Glucocorticoids; Glycerides; Hair Preparations; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male

Glyceryl monothioglycolate, a reducing agent used in permanent waving solutions, is a recognized cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Because of an unexplained persistence of dermatitis in beauty shop clients after exposure to permanent wave solutions containing glyceryl monothioglycolate, we looked for the presence of this or a cross-reacting substance in permanent-waved hair as a possible source of continued exposure to the allergen. Seventeen subjects sensitive to glyceryl monothioglycolate underwent patch testing with hair samples collected before and at various times after a permanent wave containing glyceryl monothioglycolate. None reacted to hair that had not received a permanent, while 7 of 17 showed positive reactions to the permanent-waved hair. Positive reactions were seen in hair collected as long as 3 months after the permanent. This suggests that a glyceryl monothioglycolate-related allergen is retained in hair for up to 3 months after the permanent, which may explain the long-lasting dermatitis that occurs in clients sensitive to glyceryl monothioglycolate.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Allergens; Dermatitis, Contact; Female; Glycerides; Hair; Hair Preparations; Humans; Middle Aged; Patch Tests; Time Factors

Topics: Allergens; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Glycerides; Hair Preparations; Humans; Patch Tests

During 64 months (1977 to 1983), twelve dermatologists from various sections of the United States studied a total of 713 patients with cosmetic dermatitis out of an estimated total of 13,216 patients with contact dermatitis. The number of patients seen for all causes during this period was 281,100. An important finding was that half of the patients or physicians were unaware that a cosmetic was responsible for their dermatitis. Skin care products, hair preparations (including colors), and facial makeup were responsible for the majority of the reactions. The most important objective was identification of causative ingredients. Eighty-seven percent of the subjects had patch tests. Fragrance, preservatives (Quaternium-15, formaldehyde, imidazolidinyl urea, and parabens), p-phenylenediamine, and glyceryl monothioglycolate were the most frequently identified allergic sensitizers, in that order. In addition to the clinical data, the study permitted assessment of the frequency of cosmetic reactions, although the data may not be entirely representative of the country at large because of the special interests of the dermatologists involved.

Topics: Adult; Allergens; Cosmetics; Dermatitis, Contact; Female; Glycerides; Hair Preparations; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Perfume; Phenylenediamines; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Skin Tests; United States

Eight hairdressers and four clients were found to be allergic to glyceryl monothioglycolate (GMTG) contained in "acid" permanent waves used in American beauty salons only since 1973. Previous studies in Germany showed that compounds closely related to GMTG were strong sensitizers. In contrast, ammonium thioglycolate (ATG) has been used since 1943 in cold "alkaline" permanent waves both in homes and in salons with no clearly documented cases of contact allergy. Our allergic patients reacted to GMTG in concentrations as low as 0.25%, although their exposure in practice could reach concentrations of 20% to 80%. GMTG-allergic patients reacted to GMTG when it was tested through a variety of glove fabrics. Household-weight neoprene gloves were protective.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Allergens; Beauty Culture; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Glycerides; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Patch Tests; Scalp Dermatoses

Glyceryl monothioglycolate has recently been implicated as an allergen. A case of a hairdresser who used this material is presented. He appeared to have an irritant contact dermatitis on his fingertips. Patch testing the patient and extensive patch testing in a group of fifty-four volunteers showed a very high incidence of irritant positive patch tests. No instance of allergy could be demonstrated in the reading of the patch tests or in biopsies of several individuals. Differentiation between allergens and irritants is difficult at times, but is necessary to avoid mislabeling of chemicals.

Topics: Adult; Beauty Culture; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Glycerides; Hair Preparations; Humans; Irritants; Male; Patch Tests

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Glycerides; Hair Preparations; Humans; Male; Patch Tests; Time Factors