A clinical and patch test study of patients with positive patch test reactions to fragrance mix in China

Abstract

The clinical and patch test (PT) features of patients with positive PT reactions to fragrance mix (FM) were studied. 378 consecutive eczema outpatients patch tested with a modified European standard series were analysed. 60 patients (15.9%) reacted to FM. No significant differences could be found between the ages of FM PT-positive and PT-negative patients [median age 40.5 (range from 18 years to 69 years) versus median age 37.5 (range from 5 years to 81 years), rank sum test, P = 0.301]. FM PT-positive rate in confirmed non-cosmetic allergic contact dermatitis patients was 30.4%, which was similar to that in confirmed cosmetic allergic contact dermatitis patients (30.4% versus 30%, chi(2) test, chi(2) = 0.0010, P = 0.972). The FM PT-positive rates were 10.8% in males and 18.2% in females (chi(2) test, chi(2) = 3.3443, P = 0.067). 76.7% of the patients with fragrance contact dermatitis were allergic to Chinese traditional medicine, which is much higher than that for cosmetic allergy (76.7% versus 43.3%, chi(2) test, chi(2) = 6.9446, P = 0.008). The positive PT rate to colophonium in the patients with positive PT reactions to FM is higher than that in the FM PT-negative patients (18.9% versus 3.0%, chi(2) test, chi(2) = 15.5471, P < 0.01). 62.5% of the patients reacted to colophonium were positive to FM. These results show that age has little effect on fragrance contact allergy. Other fragrant products besides cosmetics are also important sources of fragrance contact allergy. Chinese traditional medicine was an important factor in fragrance allergy in China. Patients with positive PT reactions to FM are more likely to react to colophonium.

Linalool – a significant contact sensitizer after air exposure

“…Concomitant reactions to colophonium are often seen in patients reacting to fragrance markers (9, 19–25). In this study, as in earlier studies on ox.…”

Contact sensitization to fragrances other than fragrance mix I in China

“…In the recent study by Mann et al (2), only 57.6% of patients tested with an extended series of fragrance ingredients (the 26 substances required to be labelled in the EU) also reacted to a fragrance marker in the baseline series. In 2005, we reported that the prevalence of contact allergy to FM I in patients with eczema was 15.9% (3). Given that more and more Chinese are using fragrance-containing cosmetics, and are also exposed to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which may also contain fragrances, it is interesting to study fragrance allergy beyond FM I in China.…”

Symmetrical drug‐related intertriginous and flexural exanthema/baboon syndrome induced by traditional Chinese medicine

“…In this patient, lesions appeared 1 day after taking traditional Chinese medicine Xi‐Huang capsule. According to Li Lin‐Feng et al, TCM was the common cause of fragrance allergy 17,18 . According to the medication taking history, we suspected that the fragrance in the Xi‐Huang capsule was the cause of the lesions.…”

“…TCM was the common cause of fragrance allergy. 17,18 According to the medication taking history, we suspected that the fragrance in the Xi-Huang capsule was the cause of the lesions. But the results of patch test with colophony, fragrance mix, balsam of peru are all negative and the patch tests with Xi-Huang capsule (5% and 10% in petroleum) were positive.…”