Erythema multiforme contact dermatitis after accidental exposure to acrylate-based printing inks.

Acrylates are well recognized as allergens. People working in the graphic arts field are exposed to acrylate-based printing inks and are therefore at high risk for occupational allergic contact dermatitis to acrylates. The most commonly used acrylic monomers in the printing process are 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 2hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and 2-ethyl acrylate. We present the case of a 26-year-old printing worker whose forearms came into contact with waste ink that spilled from a container. He was not exposed to sunlight or UV light and washed the affected area after the spill. Three days later, he began to experience intense pruritus, and vesicles began to appear on the wrists and forearms. The intensity of the lesions increased during the following days, with the appearance of multiple targetoid erythematousedematous macules in the neighboring areas of the forearms and arms (Fig. 1) and on the face, trunk, and extremities at some distance from the ink splashes (Fig. 2). The patient had no history of skin disease, infection, or ingestion of medication during the previous months. Analysis of a biopsy specimen revealed vacuolar degeneration of the basement membrane, necrotic keratinocytes in the epidermis, exocytosis, and a predominantly perivascular, lymphocytic inflammatory dermal infiltrate with no spongiosis. The suspected diagnosis was erythema multiforme contact dermatitis. Oral prednisone was prescribed, and the lesions improved gradually until they had completely resolved 2 weeks later leaving only scaling. A few hours after