Allergic contact dermatitis to phenol‐formaldehyde resin at a single tertiary dermatology centre

Abstract

Background Phenol‐formaldehyde resin 2 (PFR2) has been shown to be a useful marker of contact allergy (CA) to various phenol‐formaldehyde resins. These compounds are used in several industries as solids, powders, or semisolid resins, and are known to be sensitizing agents. Objectives The aims were to investigate contact allergy to PFR2 in a single tertiary dermatology centre, to examine associated simultaneous allergic reactions, and to identify cases of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to PFR2. Methods A retrospective study was performed of patients patch tested to PFR2 between 1 January 2003 and 17 June 2020. Results In all, 337 of 7922 patients were tested to PFR2 and 16 (4.7%) reacted. Of those 16 individuals, six (37.5%) had a relevant reaction (1.8% of total). Simultaneous allergic reactions were noted to colophonium in eight (50.0%) patients, Myroxylon pereirae in five (31.3%), and fragrance mix I (FMI) of three cases (18.8%). Conclusion Contact allergy to PFR2, even in a selected population of patients, is uncommon. However, patients exposed to plastics and glues, or who work with wood products should be routinely patch tested to a plastics and glues series containing PFR2. We recommend that all centres include PFR2 in their plastics and glues series.

Systematic Identification of Copositivity Groups in Standard Series Patch Testing Through Hierarchical Clustering

“…Finally, similar to prior reports, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol (bronopol), and phenol formaldehyde resin did not group with the with the formaldehyde group …”

“…13 Finally, similar to prior reports, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol (bronopol), 4,8,[10][11][12] and phenol formaldehyde resin did not group with the with the formaldehyde group. 14,15 Metal Group Copositive reactions between nickel, cobalt, and chromium have been well established, 16,17 and clustered with a low dendrogram height of 1.45. Thus, these metals were also used to help benchmark meaningful copositivity thresholds.…”

Colophonium-related Allergic Contact Dermatitis Caused by Medical Adhesive Tape Used to Prevent Skin Lesions in Soldiers

“…The findings are statistically significant, but the wide confidence interval (CI) reflects the low number of subjects; hence the magnitude of the increase in ORs must be interpreted with some caution. The presence of simultaneous contact allergies to colophonium and to hydroperoxides of linalool and limonene, PFR2, and 4-tert-butylphenolformaldehyde resin in the group of conscripts is in line with previous reports in the literature that demonstrated associations between contact allergy to colophonium and other plant-derived allergens, such as fragrances, and also to phenol formaldehyde resins ( 23 – 26 ). In the current study, contact allergy to PFR2, most often an occupational allergen, was frequent (19%) among colophonium-allergic patients, but in no case could a history of exposure to PFR2 be ascertained.…”