Occupational contact dermatitis in painters: an analysis of patch test data from the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group.

Background: Painters are among the occupational groups that most commonly experience occupational contact dermatitis, but few investigations exist concerning this occupation.

Objectives: To characterize painters with contact dermatitis and identify the most common allergens associated with the occupation. Materials and methods.

Contact allergy to epoxy resin: risk occupations and consequences.

Background: Epoxy resin monomers are strong skin sensitizers that are widely used in industrial sectors. In Denmark, the law stipulates that workers must undergo a course on safe handling of epoxy resins prior to occupational exposure, but the effectiveness of this initiative is largely unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of contact allergy to epoxy resin monomer (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A; MW 340) among patients with suspected contact dermatitis and relate this to occupation and work-related consequences.

Classification of hand eczema: clinical and aetiological types. Based on the guideline of the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group.

Background: No generally accepted classification scheme for hand eczema exists. The Danish Contact Dermatitis Group recently developed a guideline defining common clinical types and providing criteria for aetiological types.

Objectives: To test the concepts of this guideline in a group of hand eczema patients.

Deodorants are the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis to fragrance ingredients.

Background: Fragrances frequently cause contact allergy, and cosmetic products are the main causes of fragrance contact allergy. As the various products have distinctive forms of application and composition of ingredients, some product groups are potentially more likely to play a part in allergic reactions than others.

Aim: To determine which cosmetic product groups cause fragrance allergy among Danish eczema patients.

Fragrance mix II in the baseline series contributes significantly to detection of fragrance allergy.

Background: Fragrance mix II (FM II) is a relatively new screening marker for fragrance contact allergy. It was introduced in the patch test baseline series in Denmark in 2005 and contains six different fragrance chemicals commonly present in cosmetic products and which are known allergens.

Aim: To investigate the diagnostic contribution of including FM II in the baseline series by comparing it with other screening markers of fragrance allergy: fragrance mix I (FM I), Myroxylon pereirae and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde (HICC).

Clinical severity and prognosis of hand eczema.

Background: Hand eczema (HE) is a frequent, long-lasting disease with both personal and societal repercussions. Consequently, more information is needed on factors that maintain symptoms.

Objectives: In this study, patients with HE were followed for 6 months from the first visit to a dermatologist to identify factors associated with severe disease and a poor prognosis.

Decreasing trends in methyldibromo glutaronitrile contact allergy--following regulatory intervention.

Background: The preservative methyldibromo glutaronitrile (MDBGN) has been banned, first from stay-on, and later from rinse-off cosmetics, in the EU countries because of increasing rates of contact allergy.

Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of contact allergy to MDBGN among patients patch tested by the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group just before and following regulatory decisions.

Patients/methods: The data set comprised 19 279 consecutive eczema patients patch tested from 2003-2007 with MDBGN 0.

Hand eczema: causes, course, and prognosis II.

Background: Hand eczema is a common dermatosis, often with a chronic course.

Objective: To follow a well-described cohort of patients with hand eczema for 5 years.

Patients And Methods: 522 consecutive hand eczema patients (175 men and 347 women) seen in a private practice of dermatology were sent a questionnaire once a year for 5 years.

Hand eczema: causes, course, and prognosis I.

Background: Hand eczema is a common dermatosis. The course is often protracted. The prognosis is not well described.

Severity of hand eczema assessed by patients and dermatologist using a photographic guide.

Background: The severity of hand eczema is of interest in epidemiological studies. Ideally, as no validated methods of self-assessment exist, a dermatologist should examine all subjects. However, this is very resource intensive.

Contact allergy to methyldibromo glutaronitrile--data from a 'front line' network.

The preservative methyldibromo glutaronitrile (MDBGN) has caused an epidemic of contact allergy in Europe. However, most data concerning contact allergy comes from hospital departments of dermatology. As a part of the primary health care sector, Danish dermatologists in private practice provide the front line of care for patients with skin diseases.

Reduced nickel sensitivity in young Danish women following regulation of nickel exposure.

In most western countries, nickel is the most common contact allergen among young women. In 1991, Denmark implemented a statutory order calling for the reduction of exposure to nickel in nickel-plated items in close contact with the skin. In a retrospective analysis, a comparison is made of the number of positive patch tests to nickel seen in a private practice of dermatology before and after this statutory order was implemented.

Brachioradial pruritus.

Twenty-one patients seen in a temperate climate who had a clinical diagnosis of brachioradial pruritus are presented. The history and clinical manifestations of the patients indicate that the symptoms were neuralgiform and caused by cumulative sun exposure.

[Results of treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer in a dermatologic practice. A prospective study].

The study was carried out to determine the results of treatment of a cohort of patients with histologically verified non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed and followed prospectively for two years in a private practice of dermatology. Throughout the follow-up period, any new non-melanoma skin cancers among this cohort were recorded. Six hundred and forty-six consecutive patients seen in the Dermatology Clinic, Vesterbro 99, Aalborg, Denmark, from July 1, 1990, to June 30, 1993, had a total of 768 tumours that were histologically verified as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or Bowen's disease.

Can oral challenge with balsam of Peru predict possible benefit from a low-balsam diet?

Background: Previous studies have shown that some patients sensitive to balsams and/or fragrances obtain long-term benefits by following a low-balsam diet, whereas others do not.

Objective: This study was performed to determine whether a low-balsam diet was a helpful long-term treatment for selected patients sensitive to balsam of Peru and/or a perfume mixture and to determine whether oral challenge with balsam of Peru could predict which balsam-sensitive patients might benefit from a reduction in balsam intake.

Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 46 patients with positive patch test results to balsam of Peru and/or a perfume mixture and chronic dermatitis of a morphology consistent with endogenous dermatitis who had experienced improvement after 1 to 2 months on a diet intended to reduce the intake of balsams.

Chromate-allergic patients challenged orally with potassium dichromate.

30 patients who had positive patch tests to potassium dichromate participated in a placebo-controlled oral challenge with 2.5 mg chromium given as potassium dichromate. 17 reacted to chromate but not to the placebo, 2 reacted to both chromate and the placebo, and 4 reacted to the placebo but not chromate.

Plantar Trichophyton rubrum infections may cause dermatophytids on the hands.

Over a 2-year period, we saw 37 patients with a diagnosis of dermatophytid on the hands based on 1) culture-proven dermatophytosis on one or both feet; 2) symmetrical, secondary vesicular eruptions on the fingers and/or palmar aspects of the hands; and 3) a resolution in both areas of involvement after treatment of the dermatophytosis on the foot. During the study period, 128 patients had culture-proven dermatophytosis of the feet caused by Trichophyton rubrum. Nine of these (7%) developed dermatophytid.