rosin and Hand-Dermatoses

Rosin of different sources is commonly used in many technical products and is known to cause contact allergy. The aim of the present investigation was to study the frequency of occupational dermatoses and of contact allergy to rosin in a factory producing tall-oil rosin. 163/180 present employees and 17/35 former employees participated in the study, which consisted of interview, clinical examination and patch testing with a standard series and additional rosins. 1/4 of those examined had some kind of current skin lesion. There were 10 cases of hand eczema. 7 subjects were patch-test-positive to gum rosin in the standard series. This frequency is about the same as among dermatitis patients at our clinic. Only 1 reaction to tall-oil rosin and none to the modified rosins tested were found. No relation between a positive patch test reaction to rosin and current skin disease could be established. No case of ongoing occupational skin disease was proved.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Chemical Industry; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Eczema; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patch Tests; Plant Oils; Resins, Plant; Sweden

Occupational contact dermatitis is common in healthcare workers. Although irritant contact dermatitis resulting from wet work is the most frequently reported cause, healthcare workers also constitute high-risk group for the development of allergic contact dermatitis and contact urticaria.. To evaluate the prevalence of delayed-type and immediate-type hypersensitivity in 120 healthcare workers with hand eczema.. One hundred and twenty healthcare workers from three major hospitals in Denmark with self-reported hand eczema within the last year participated in the study. Patch tests included baseline series plus selected allergens, and prick tests included standard inhalational allergens plus natural rubber latex and chlorhexidine. Levels of IgE specific for latex, chlorhexidine and ethylene oxide were measured.. Of the participants, 53% had positive patch test reactions. The most frequent positive patch test reactions were to nickel, thiomersal, fragrances, rubber chemicals, and colophonium. The prevalence of natural rubber latex allergy as diagnosed by prick testing was 2.5%, and chlorhexidine allergy (both contact allergy and IgE-mediated allergy) was found in <1%. Ethylene oxide allergy was not identified in any of the participants.. Our results confirm previous reports on contact allergy patterns in healthcare workers. Testing for natural rubber latex allergy is still important, but increased risks of chlorhexidine and ethylene oxide allergy could not be confirmed.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Allergens; Chlorhexidine; Denmark; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Disinfectants; Eczema; Ethylene Oxide; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Health Personnel; Humans; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Latex Hypersensitivity; Male; Middle Aged; Nickel; Patch Tests; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Prevalence; Resins, Plant; Skin Tests; Thimerosal

Pine wood is one of the most used raw products in furniture manufacturing in Europe. High concentrations of colophony and turpentine can be extracted from pine resins. A 45-year-old woman developed a contact dermatitis of the face and hands due to a sensitization to colophony and turpentine after she had bought untreated pine chairs. The increased use of untreated pine in the furniture industry might result in an increase of colophony and turpentine-induced contact allergies. Therefore, the slogan "untreated=harmless" should be considered critically in such cases.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Facial Dermatoses; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Interior Design and Furnishings; Middle Aged; Resins, Plant; Solvents; Turpentine

Topics: Adult; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Female; Fingers; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Music; Nickel; Resins, Plant; Wood

The aim of this study was to determine any occupationally relevant allergic contact sensitizations in hand dermatitis in a jeweler. Patch test with European Standard, vehicle, medicaments, and metal series (Finn chambers on Scanpor) was performed. Readings were taken on day 2 and day 4. Allergic positive reaction to colophonium 20% pet and silver nitrate 0.5% aq was detected. The contact sensitivities to silver and colophonium seem to be occupationally relevant in this case.

Topics: Aged; Allergens; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Diagnosis, Differential; Forearm; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Leg; Male; Patch Tests; Resins, Plant; Silver

Topics: Aged; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Resins, Plant; Tars; Trees

Topics: Child, Preschool; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Female; Foot Dermatoses; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Molecular Structure; Resins, Plant; Shoes; Tars

Topics: Adult; Allergens; Dental Assistants; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Intradermal Tests; Occupational Exposure; Patch Tests; Resins, Plant; Tars

Colophony--also called rosin--is a material obtained from coniferous trees. It is used widely in many products, particularly because of its good tackifying properties. Colophony is also used in paper sizing to increase water resistance. Colophony may cause contact allergy, and around 5% of Swedish dermatitis patients show allergic reactions to colophony at patch testing. There are many case reports of colophony in different products causing contact dermatitis. Often, however, the clinical relevance of a positive patch-test reaction to colophony is difficult to evaluate. The principal aims of the present thesis were to study the prevalence of contact allergy to colophony and of skin disease in individuals with an occupational exposure to colophony; to study the prognosis of dermatitis in colophony-sensitive subjects, and to investigate the outcome of repeated open applications of colophony, thereby trying to elucidate the clinical relevance of contact allergy to colophony. Employees of a tall-oil rosin (colophony) factory (n = 180), and of an opera company where colophony was used in dancers' rosin, mascara and wig glues (n = 132), were interviewed, examined and patch tested. 3.9% and 2% of these two groups respectively had a positive patch test to colophony. More than every fourth participant showed some kind of skin disease, but only few cases were related to work. Eighty-three patients with previously diagnosed contact allergy to colophony were followed-up 72% showed a positive patch-test reaction to colophony at re-testing. Around one third had hand eczema. There was no significant correlation between colophony exposure and current hand eczema. Adhesive bandages containing colophony and zinc oxide (ZnO), colophony and mixes of colophony and ZnO, were tested in 7 colophony-sensitive subjects to see whether addition of zinc oxide inhibited elicitation of allergic dermatitis to colophony, which has been proposed. No difference in reactivity between colophony and colophony/ZnO was seen at patch testing, and there were positive patch-test reactions to all colophony-containing bandages. Thus no inhibitory effect of ZnO was shown. Repeated open application tests were performed with cobalt chloride and colophony in sensitized guinea pigs. The animals were also patch-tested. A dose-response correlation was found with both cobalt chloride and colophony. There was a concordance between patch-test reactions and reactions at repeated open application tests, the hig

Topics: Adult; Animals; Cosmetics; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Facial Dermatoses; Female; Guinea Pigs; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases; Occupational Exposure; Patch Tests; Plant Oils; Prevalence; Resins, Plant; Tars; Water Loss, Insensible

Colophony is commonly used in many products that we are exposed to both at work and during leisure. At our Department, about 5% of patch tested dermatitis patients show positive reactions to colophony. 83 patients in whom contact allergy to colophony had been diagnosed were followed up after 9-13 years. They were interviewed, examined and retested. At least 30% had current hand eczema on follow-up examination. Among those in whom the dermatitis had started on the hands, there were proportionally more individuals with current hand eczema than among those in whom the onset had been on other parts of the body. 72% of the participants were still patch-test-positive to colophony, and more than 1/2 had additional positive reactions to other allergens. Some of these additional reactions were new compared to the previous test occasion. The degree of exposure to colophony throughout the years was difficult to estimate. Contact allergy to colophony was considered occupational in individuals with, e.g., soldering jobs.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patch Tests; Prognosis; Resins, Plant; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Tars

To estimate the occurrence of skin symptoms and the prevalence of contact allergy to occupational allergens, 84 male woodwork teachers were interviewed, clinically examined and patch tested. The tests included a supplemented European standard series and acetone extracts of wood dust of pine, spruce, juniper and birch. In addition, 10 colophony-allergic volunteers were tested with dilution series of wood dust extracts. Major colophony compounds in the dust extracts were analyzed with gas chromatography. We found a high 1-year period prevalence of generally mild hand eczema: 19%. Contact allergy was diagnosed to several allergens in the working environment, e.g., benzisothiazolin-3-one, nickel, formaldehyde and colophony. A clear relationship between patch test reactions to colophony and to coniferous woods, especially pine, was found. Exposure to wood dust at work caused dermatitis in a colophony-sensitized teacher.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Allergens; Chromatography, Gas; Cohort Studies; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Dust; Eczema; Formaldehyde; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Juniperus; Male; Middle Aged; Nickel; Patch Tests; Plant Extracts; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Prevalence; Resins, Plant; Sweden; Tars; Teaching; Thiazoles; Trees; Wood

Topics: Adult; Beauty Culture; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Resins, Plant; Tars; Waxes

839 patients were patch tested with a series of 31 plastics and glues allergens at a dermatologic clinic over a period of 7 years. 52 (6%) had a positive patch test reaction to 1 or more such allergens. Clinic charts of 47 patients (out of 52) were available for the study. All but 3 patients had dermatitis on their hands: 17 had only hand dermatitis. 25 (53%) patients' test results were of present or past relevance to their skin diseases. 11 patients (68%) with occupational allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and 14 (45%) with non-occupational dermatitis had relevant reactions. p-tertiary-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin was the most common allergen (9 cases). 7 patients reacted to diaminodiphenylmethane. 5 patients, who had colophony allergy, reacted to abietic acid and 4 to abitol. There was no reaction to 14 test substances. Special series, such as this plastics and glues series, reveal the cause of ACD less frequently than standard series. However, there is no other way to confirm allergy to these usually industrial allergens, which can also sensitize through non-occupational exposure during hobby working or through unpolymerized monomer left in the finished plastic product.

Topics: Adhesives; Adult; Aged; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Irritant; Dermatitis, Occupational; Ethylenediamines; Female; Finland; Formaldehyde; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Patch Tests; Plastics; Resins, Plant; Resorcinols

A connection between patch test reactions to paper extracts and contact allergy to rosin (colophony) has been demonstrated.. We wanted to determine whether a difference in the allergenic activity of various types of paper is related to a difference in the pulp.. Patients with dermatitis who were frequently exposed to paper were patch tested with extracts from various papers and the standard series. The extracts were also tested in volunteers with or without contact allergy to rosin and in animals. The rosin compounds in the papers were analyzed by gas chromatography.. The subjects reacting to paper extracts also reacted to rosin. Most reactions were found to the papers produced from mechanical pulps, which contained the highest analyzed amounts of rosin compounds. Animals sensitized to rosin reacted only to paper from mechanical pulp.. Papers based on mechanical pulps that are considered to be environmentally friendly have a greater potential to elicit positive patch test reactions than papers made from other pulps. The increased use of mechanical pulps in different applications may increase the incidence of rosin-related hand eczema.

Topics: Abietanes; Allergens; Animals; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Irritant; Dermatitis, Occupational; Diterpenes; Eczema; Female; Guinea Pigs; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Immunization; Male; Paper; Patch Tests; Phenanthrenes; Resins, Plant

Topics: Adult; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatologic Agents; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Resins, Plant; Skin Diseases; Tars; Warts

Topics: Aged; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Resins, Plant; Sports; Tars; Thiazoles

Skin-sensitizing rosin is present in Duraphat, a fluoride varnish used all over the world. Two cases of hypersensitivity to Duraphat are presented: a dental nurse with dermatitis of the hand and a patient with allergic contact stomatitis.

Topics: Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Fluorides, Topical; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Middle Aged; Resins, Plant; Sodium Fluoride; Stomatitis

Process and office workers at a Swedish paper mill (n = 274) and dairy workers (n = 45) were investigated with questionnaires regarding skin symptoms. In the second part of the study, subjects reporting skin symptoms and a random sample of subjects without symptoms were examined and investigated with patch testing. Pruritus and skin irritation probably related to exposure to dust were found. The results do not indicate an increased prevalence of contact allergy. In two cases, positive patch test reactions to paper size (rosin) and a slimicide, mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), were noted.

Topics: Adult; Chi-Square Distribution; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dermatitis, Atopic; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Paper; Regression Analysis; Resins, Plant; Risk Factors; Single-Blind Method; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sweden

Topics: Adolescent; Castor Oil; Collodion; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatologic Agents; Drug Combinations; Drug Eruptions; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Lactates; Resins, Plant; Salicylates; Tars

Topics: Adult; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Industry; Male; Occupational Exposure; Paint; Paper; Resins, Plant; Tars

A nonatopic female secretary developed hand dermatitis after 1 year of full-time work with telefax paper. Her dermatitis improved on sick leave and vacation and relapsed at work. Patch testing showed allergic reactions to several fragrances, balsam of Peru, colophony and neomycin. In 3 patch test sessions, her own telefax papers gave a doubtful reaction which persisted for 4 days, but it could not be determined whether the reactions were allergic or irritant. The colophony content of the telefax paper was about 1%, and it was possible that colophony in the telefax paper was responsible for the weak path test reactions. Accordingly, the contact dermatitis would have been allergic. The patient has now been relocated, does not handle telefax paper, and is symptomless. We concluded that our patient had an occupational hand contact dermatitis induced by telefax paper and possibly caused by colophony allergy.

Topics: Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Middle Aged; Paper; Resins, Plant

Topics: Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Facial Dermatoses; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Music; Resins, Plant; Waxes

Two groups of patients were studied, one with known contact allergy to colophony and hand eczema, 'colophony patients', and the other consisted of patients who suspected that their eczema was caused by contact with paper, 'paper patients'. The 'colophony patients' were patch tested with samples of newsprint paper, while the 'paper patients' were tested with samples of their own paper. Extracts of the paper and paper were applied. Testing with paper caused no reactions. All 'colophony patients' showed strong reactions to the tested extracts of newsprint paper. None of the 'paper patients' reacted to the extracts of their own paper, except those patch-test positive to colophony or maleopimaric acid, the main component of one type of modified colophony in paper size and shown experimentally to be a potent sensitizer. Colophony in paper may contribute to hand eczema in sensitized patients and the use of cotton gloves when in contact with paper might alleviate the dermatitis.

Topics: Abietanes; Dermatitis, Contact; Diterpenes; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Newspapers as Topic; Occupational Diseases; Paper; Patch Tests; Phenanthrenes; Resins, Plant; Triterpenes

Topics: Adult; Dermatitis, Contact; Dermatologic Agents; Fingers; Gels; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Keratolytic Agents; Male; Resins, Plant; Warts

Topics: Dermatitis, Occupational; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Resins, Plant; Tars

Topics: Adult; Dermatitis, Contact; Hand Dermatoses; Humans; Male; Music; Resins, Plant