Allergists/immunologists see patients with a variety of skin disorders. Some, such as atopic and allergic contact dermatitis, are caused by abnormal immunologic reactions, whereas others, such as seborrheic dermatitis or rosacea, lack an immunologic basis. This review summarizes a select group of dermatologic problems commonly encountered by an allergist/immunologist.

Allergic contact dermatitis is the consequence of an immune reaction mediated by T cells against low molecular weight chemicals known as haptens. It is a common condition that occurs in all races and age groups and affects the quality of life of those who present it. The immunological mechanism of this disease has been reviewed in recent decades with significant advance in its understanding. Th...

Preservatives used in both industrial and consumer products are well-known and important causes of contact allergy (1). The allergens relevant for this article are the preservatives methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) (CAS: 26172-55-4), methylisothiazolinone (MI) (CAS: 268220-4), and benzisothiazolinone (BIT) (CAS: 2634-335). MCI/MI (3:1) has been used as a preservative in cosmetics and household...

reactions, 5 had a history of atopic dermatitis. While some authors sustain that allergic contact dermatitis is less common in patients with such a history, others claim that it is equally common, and still others claim that it is more common.7 Whatever the case, we believe that patch testing could be a useful diagnostic aid in children with foot dermatitis, of allergic or other origin, in whom...

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by poly(hexamethylene) biguanide hydrochloride in contact lens care solutions María-Antonia Pastor-Nieto1, Patricia González-Muñoz1, Raquel Pérez-Mesonero1, Virginia Melgar-Molero1, María-Begoña Pastor-Nieto2, Jesús Zarallo-Gallardo3, Eva Martín-Alcalde4 and Esther De Eusebio-Murillo1 1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara ...

BACKGROUND A new technique, cutaneous field stimulation (CFS), which activates electrically unmyelinated C-fibers, is used to treat localized itch. Its action is similar to that of capsaicin, the pungent agent in hot peppers, which enhances delayed allergic reactions. The aim of the study was to investigate how experimental contact dermatitis responds to CFS. METHODS Twelve patients with cont...

BACKGROUND There are no studies on contact allergy in patients with prurigo. With itch being important in the pathophysiology of prurigo diseases and being a symptom of allergic contact dermatitis, we aimed to investigate contact allergy in patients suffering from prurigo. OBJECTIVES Exploratory analysis of patch test results in prurigo patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analys...

BACKGROUND Isolated cases of allergic contact dermatitis, gingivitis and stomatitis caused by beryllium have been previously reported. We have been able to study a series of 12 patients with patch test reactions to beryllium chloride. OBJECTIVES The study was aimed at defining the clinical and patch testing characteristics in this group of patients, and determining whether some were delayed e...

Bour-Jr Wang, Yue-Liang Guo, How-Ran Guo and Ho-Yuan Chang Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan, Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, and Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) Medical College and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

A 39-year-old female presented with a 20-year history of a polymorphic, urticated and papular eruption occurring on sun-exposed sites but sparing the face and hands. She had been referred because, after many years of sunscreen use, she had begun to develop an exacerbation of her rash at sites of application of a new sunscreen, including, for the first time, the face. She described an urticated ...