Contact Dermatitis Associated With Hair Care Products: A Retrospective Analysis of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group Data, 2001-2016.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hair care products (HCPs) may cause both allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and irritant contact dermatitis (ICD).

OBJECTIVES:

The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of HCP-associated ICD/ACD and to characterize relevant allergens.

METHODS:

This study is a retrospective analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) patch test data, 2001-2016.

RESULTS:

Of 38,775 patients tested, 3481 (9.0%) had positive patch test reactions associated with HCPs. The HCP-positive patients were significantly more likely to be female (79.9% vs 66.0%) and/or have primary sites of dermatitis on the face (32.0% vs 27.8%) or scalp (15.4% vs 2.2%) compared with the HCP-negative patients (P < 0.0001). Of 4908 HCP-associated positive patch test reactions, 86.9% (n = 4263) were due to allergens on the NACDG screening series; p-phenylenediamine (35.8%), methylisothiazolinone (9.7%), methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (8.7%), and cocamidopropyl betaine (5.9%) were the most frequent. Most reactions (87.7%, 3736/4263) were currently clinically relevant. The most common job associated with 366 occupationally related NACDG HCP-associated allergens was hairdresser/cosmetologist (71.9%). Two hundred eighty-two patients (0.7%) had ICD associated with HCPs. Shampoo/conditioners were the most frequent source of NACDG HCP-associated reactions (47.3%) and HCP-associated ICD (45.0%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Of the HCP-positive patients, 18.5% had HCP reactions to allergens not on the NACDG screening series, underscoring the importance of patch testing to expanded series in patients suspected of HCP allergy.

• Authors: Erin M Warshaw, Jenna L Ruggiero, Joel G DeKoven, Howard I Maibach, Amber R Atwater, James S Taylor, Kathryn A Zug, Margo J Reeder, Jonathan I Silverberg, Denis Sasseville, Joseph F Fowler Jr, Anthony F Fransway, Melanie D Pratt, Donald V Belsito, Vincent A DeLeo
• Journal: Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug (Dermatitis) 2022 Jan-Feb 01 Vol. 33 Issue 1 Pg. 91-102 ISSN: 2162-5220 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 34149001 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 American Contact Dermatitis Society. All Rights Reserved.

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Cosmetics
• Hair Preparations

Topics

• Allergens (adverse effects)
• Cosmetics (adverse effects)
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (diagnosis, etiology)
• Dermatitis, Occupational (diagnostic imaging, etiology)
• Female
• Hair Preparations (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Male
• North America
• Patch Tests (methods)
• Retrospective Studies