Allergisches Gesichtsekzem

Abstract

The face is exposed to many foreign substances and may thus be a site of allergic contact dermatitis. Our aim is to elucidate the spectrum of factors associated with facial dermatitis by analyzing data of patients patch tested in the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) between 1995 and 2007. In 18,572 patients the main anatomical site of dermatitis was the face. Among these, the proportion of females and of patients with past or present atopic eczema was increased, while probable occupational causation was less common than in the overall group. Cosmetic allergens, as well as nickel, were significantly more common in women than men, including fragrance mix (10.8% vs. 8.3%), p-phenylenediamine (4.0% vs. 2.8%), lanolin alcohols (3.0% vs. 2.2%), Lyral(TM) (3.1% vs. 2.0%) and bufexamac (1.8% vs. 1.1%). In comparison, only epoxy resin contact allergy was diagnosed significantly more often in men than women: In patients with airborne contact dermatitis, over-represented allergens included sesquiterpene lactone mix, compositae mix, epoxy resin, (chloro-) methylisothiazolinone and oil of turpentine. In the clinical approach to patients with facial dermatitis, occupational airborne causation should be considered in addition to non-occupational (e.g., cosmetic) allergen exposure.

The sesquiterpene lactone mix: A review of past, present and future aspects

“…25,26,90 Obviously, the prevalence of positive SL mix reactions is much higher in selected patch test populations, such as those with chronic actinic dermatitis (20%-36%), 10,11 Indian patients with allergic contact dermatitis (14%), 91 and European patients with airborne contact dermatitis (about 16%). 92 The highest detection rate of the SL mix on routine screening, when compared with plant extracts, was around 65%, and this highlights the shortcomings of the SL mix. 28,45 Jacob et al offered an explanation by pointing out the similar molecular structure and properties of the three allergens of the SL mix, and they suggested a SL mix II with six allergens, but this mix has never become commercially available.…”

“…On the other hand, the Compositae mix 6%, originally developed in Germany and applied for 24 h in the local patch testing procedure, turned out to have an irritant and sensitising potential, when applied for 48 h, and the mix was thus less suitable for the baseline series 25,26,90 . Obviously, the prevalence of positive SL mix reactions is much higher in selected patch test populations, such as those with chronic actinic dermatitis (20%–36%), 10,11 Indian patients with allergic contact dermatitis (14%), 91 and European patients with airborne contact dermatitis (about 16%) 92 . The highest detection rate of the SL mix on routine screening, when compared with plant extracts, was around 65%, and this highlights the shortcomings of the SL mix 28,45 .…”