Allergic contact dermatitis to copolymers in cosmetics--case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

Copolymers or heteropolymers are large molecules with high molecular weights (>1000 D). They have been underestimated for a long time as to their sensitizing capacities. Allergic contact dermatitis to 6 copolymers in cosmetics and 1 in a medical dressing has been described; however, the nature of the hapten is still unknown. We report a case of allergic contact dermatitis to polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/hexadecene copolymer in a purple-colored lipstick and review the literature on allergic contact dermatitis to 7 copolymers: PVP/hexadecene, PVP/eicosene, PVP/1-triacontene, methoxy polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-22/dodecyl glycols, methoxy PEG-17/dodecyl glycols, phthalic anhydride/trimellitic anhydride/glycols, and polyvinyl methyl/maleic acid anhydride.

• Authors: Sarah Quartier, Marjan Garmyn, Sophie Becart, An Goossens
• Journal: Contact dermatitis (Contact Dermatitis) Vol. 55 Issue 5 Pg. 257-67 (Nov 2006) ISSN: 0105-1873 [Print] England
• PMID: 17026690 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Cosmetics
• Maleic Anhydrides
• Pharmaceutic Aids
• Phthalic Anhydrides
• Polymers
• Polyvinyls
• Surface-Active Agents
• methoxy polyethylene glycol amine
• Polyethylene Glycols
• trimellitic anhydride
• Povidone
• phthalic anhydride

Topics

• Adult
• Allergens (adverse effects)
• Cosmetics (adverse effects, chemistry)
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (etiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Maleic Anhydrides (adverse effects, analysis)
• Pharmaceutic Aids (adverse effects, analysis)
• Phthalic Anhydrides (adverse effects, analysis)
• Polyethylene Glycols (adverse effects, analysis)
• Polymers (adverse effects, analysis)
• Polyvinyls (adverse effects, analysis)
• Povidone (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, analysis, chemistry)
• Surface-Active Agents (adverse effects, analysis)