Trends in contact allergy identified by comparative patch test results can inform clinical practice.
The North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG), comprising 11 U.S. and 2 Canadian dermatologists, has been collecting patch test results since the 1980s to determine trends in contact allergy. Their most recent survey covers results of patch testing with a panel of 65 allergens in 4454 subjects from 2005 through 2006. The hands and face were the most frequent primary reaction sites, followed by scattered and generalized patterns.
Almost two thirds of patients had a positive response to at least one of the patch test reagents. Allergic contact dermatitis was the final diagnosis in 59%. The top 10 contact allergens were nickel, balsam of Peru, fragrance mix I, quaternium-15, neomycin, bacitracin, formaldehyde, cobalt chloride, methyldibro…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals
EquityVaxin
Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.
Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology
Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)
DisclosuresConsultant / Advisory board Astellas Pharmaceuticals
EquityVaxin
Grant / Research support NIH; NIH/NCI; Veteran’s Administration; Ferndale Laboratories; Kyowa Hakko Kirin Pharma, Inc.
Editorial boards Cancer Prevention Research; Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, & Photomedicine; UpToDate; eMedicine; Journal of Dermatological Sciences; JAMA Dermatology
Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Vice Chair, Committee on Science and Research); Photomedicine Society (Board of Directors)