Time trends in Swedish patch test data from 1992 to 2000. A multi-centre study based on age- and sex-adjusted results of the Swedish standard series.

Allergic contact dermatitis is recognized as a public health problem and some major allergens have been subject to intervention aiming at lowering skin exposure. There is an obvious interest in evaluating the effect of such interventions. Population studies are difficult to perform and epidemiological studies based on clinical data from testing patients with contact dermatitis are common surrogates.

Are adverse skin reactions to cosmetics underestimated in the clinical assessment of contact dermatitis? A prospective study among 1075 patients attending Swedish patch test clinics.

It is known that cosmetics and skin care products can cause adverse skin reactions. However, the frequency of adverse reactions reported to the Medical Product Agency (MPA) in Sweden is low. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of adverse skin reactions to cosmetics among patients referred for standard patch testing owing to suspected contact dermatitis in general, most frequently hand eczema.

Skin blood flow in the human hand in relation to applied pressure.

Our aim was to study the relationship between external pressure and skin blood flow (BF) in the area of the palm (P) of the human hand and the relationship between BF and pressure pain thresholds. A special probe was designed for measuring simultaneously the skin BF using a laser Doppler flowmeter and the pressure using an algometer. The normal BF in the distal phalanx of the index finger and in the middle of the thenar musculature was higher than in the middle phalanx of the middle finger and the middle of P.