A Survey of Allergic Contact Dermatitis Among Hairdressers

Summary The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the professional environment and hypersensitivity reactions to various contact allergens, the features of the clinical course, and the type of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in 35 hairdressers. The analysis was based on data on length of professional experience, localization of rashes, clinical diagnosis and allergens, and the cause of positive reactions in patch testing. Skin changes most often affect the hands, palms, face, and neck. The frequency of ACD diagnosed was 46%, followed by dyshidrotic eczema (DE) - 34%. The highest percentage of contact dermatitis (68%) was seen in the upper extremities, followed by dermatitis of the face and hands (26%). Of the patients investigated, 34% had a history of illness up to 3 years. A negative correlation was found between professional experience and “hand eczema” (p=0.005). Patch tests showed that the most frequent positive reactions were to Nickel (II) sulfate hexahydrate (Nickel, 15 times) and p-Phenylenediamine (PPD, 14 times). These contact allergens are directly correlated with hand eczema. We compared the results with those published in the literature.