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Background: Hairdressers have a high prevalence of contact dermatitis, especially to nickel. The presence of nickel in hairdressing tools has been evaluated in the European Union, where the government limits nickel release levels from objects., Objectives: The aim of this study is to qualitatively investigate nickel release in hairdresser tools in both rural and urban United States, a country without nickel release legislation., Methods: Hairdressers and individuals with hairdressing tools were invited to participate. Metallic parts of each tool were tested with dimethylglyoxime (DMG), which detects nickel release. Data on tool cost were recorded., Results: A total of 89 tools from 9 salons and 2 over-the-counter sets were tested. Twenty-four (27%) tested positive: trimmers (100%), curling irons (100%), clippers (50%), hair clips (36%), texturizing shears (26%), and trimming shears (4%). Nickel was detected in both salon and over-the-counter tools, and rural and urban salons. Nickel-releasing tools were cheaper than DMG-negative tools of the same type., Conclusions: Our findings help explain the high prevalence of contact dermatitis among hairdressers, alert clinicians to consider occult occupational nickel when assessing patients with allergic contact dermatitis, reinforces the importance of using barrier protection including gloves when handling hairdressing tools including at home, and augments impetus for more legislation regulating common allergens., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Hand eczema is a common inflammatory skin disorder. Health care providers need continuously updated information about the management of hand eczema to ensure best treatment for their patients., Objectives: To update the European Society of Contact Dermatitis guideline on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment on of hand eczema., Method: The Guideline Development Group (GDG) was established on behalf of the ESCD. A call for interest was launched via the ESCD website and via the ESCD members' mailing list. Appraisal of the evidence for therapeutic and preventive interventions was applied and a structured method of developing consensus was used and moderated by an external methodologist. The final guideline was approved by the ESCD executive committee and was in external review on the ESCD webpage for 1 month., Results: Consensus was achieved for several statements and management strategies., Conclusion: The updated guideline should improve management of hand eczema., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background/objectives: The representation of women among practicing dermatologists has increased over the last several decades. Here, we analyze the evolving representation of women in the Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD) and the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA), with particular focus on the role of women as society leaders, researchers, and annual meeting speakers., Methods: A retrospective review of SPD and PeDRA professional society leaders (SPD presidents, PeDRA co-chairs, PeDRA executive committee members), grant recipients (pilot grant recipients, team/collaborative grant recipients, William Weston Research Grant recipients), and annual meeting speakers (named lecturers at the SPD Annual Meeting, plenary lecturers at the PeDRA Annual Conference) was performed. Authors of research articles in Pediatric Dermatology were reviewed at three-year intervals from 1983 through 2019. The percentage of women among all leadership, grant, authorship, and lectureship categories was analyzed over time., Results: Women have represented 70% of SPD presidents since 2011 and 75% of PeDRA co-chairs since 2013. The percentage of women among first and senior authors of research articles in Pediatric Dermatology increased significantly from 1983 to 2019 (Cochran Armitage test for trend, P < .01), and women earned the majority of SPD/PeDRA pilot project grants (2008-2018), collaborative team grants (2016-2018), and William Weston Research Grants (1995-2015). At SPD Annual meetings from 2010 to 2019, women comprised 44% of named lecturers but accounted for approximately 78% of the pediatric dermatology workforce (P < .01)., Conclusion: Despite the widespread influence of women in pediatric dermatology leadership and research, gender discrepancies remain among named lecturer positions at national pediatric dermatology meetings., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Concern about causing active sensitization when patch testing is performed with p-phenylenediamine (PPD) 1% pet. has led to a recommendation to use PPD 0.3% pet. as a potentially safer preparation. However, the dose per area of allergen delivered, and hence the risk of active sensitization, depend on the amount dispensed into the patch test chamber, which can vary widely., Objective: To evaluate whether patch testing with equivalent doses of different concentrations of PPD in pet. is associated with similar outcomes., Methods: Seventeen known PPD-sensitive subjects were patch tested with different volumes and concentrations of PPD in pet. that deliver the same allergen dose per unit area (6 mg of PPD 1% pet. and 20 mg of PPD 0.3% pet. in Finn Chambers®, both equivalent to ∼ 0.09 mg/cm 2 )., Results: Eleven patients (65%) had positive reactions to both doses; 4 patients (24%) had negative results [percentage agreement of 88% (15/17)]. One patient each had a positive reaction to only one dose., Conclusions: The 88% concordance suggests that dose per unit area is more important in determining reactions to allergens than the excipient volume dispensed. Patch testing with a smaller volume of 1% PPD may be a reasonable alternative to testing with 20 mg of 0.3% PPD., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Several studies have shown nickel and cobalt release from jewellery by using spot tests, but the metal composition of jewellery is largely unknown., Objectives: To evaluate the metal composition of a large worldwide sample of mainly inexpensive jewellery items, and investigate the release of nickel, cobalt and lead from a subsample by using EN 1811:1998-required methods., Methods: A total of 956 metallic jewellery components were examined with X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. A subsample of 96 jewellery items purchased in the United States were investigated for nickel, cobalt and lead release by the use of artificial sweat immersion and plasma optical emission spectroscopy., Results: Eighteen elements were detected. The 10 most frequently occurring were, in order of frequency, copper, iron, zinc, nickel, silver, chromium, tin, manganese, lead, and cobalt. Release of nickel was noted from 79 of the 96 US samples (0.01-98 µg/cm(2) /week), release of cobalt from 35 samples (0.02-0.5 µg/cm(2) /week), and release of lead from 37 samples (0.03-2718 µg/cm(2) /week)., Conclusions: We present here a comprehensive list of the most frequently encountered metals in jewellery and fashion accessories. Different allergenic and non-allergenic metals are utilized. We also report the frequent release of nickel, cobalt and lead from these objects, despite legislative restrictions., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Hair dye products constitute an important source of allergen exposure, and contribute importantly to allergic contact dermatitis in consumers and hairdressers., Objectives: To evaluate the presence of potent contact sensitizers in oxidative hair dye products intended for home use on the US market., Methods: Ingredient labels of 107 hair dyes from 10 major brands were examined and used to assess the prevalence of hair dye substances known to be potent contact sensitizers., Results: One hundred and six of 107 (99%) products contained at least one potent sensitizer, and the average product contained six (range 0-11). p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) was found in 83 products (78%), but resorcinol (89%), m-aminophenol (75%), p-aminophenol (60%) and toluene-2,5-diamine (21%) were also frequently identified., Conclusions: Potent contact sensitizers were almost universally included in the hair dyes investigated in the United States. Although PPD is a common allergen, resorcinol and m-aminophenol were found more frequently. In total, 30 potent sensitizers were found. Clinicians should consider other allergens in addition to PPD when evaluating patients with suspected hair dye allergy., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Nickel is widely used in coins; nickel may cause contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis in those who handle them., Objectives: To investigate alloy use, coin composition and nickel and cobalt release for a worldwide selection of currently circulating coins., Materials and Methods: Eight hundred and fifty coins of 361 different denominations or issues from 52 countries were collected and analysed with X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and nickel and cobalt spot tests., Results: Copper-nickel was the most frequently identified coin alloy, being observed in 100 denominations (28%), followed by aluminium-bronze (62, 17%). In total, 239 denominations released nickel (28%). Coins from Bolivia, Brazil and Costa Rica did not release nickel. Fewer than one-third of the denominations or issues from China, India, the euro area and Indonesia released nickel. In the United States, the Russian Federation, Japan, and Mexico, one-third or more of the denominations released nickel., Conclusions: This worldwide selection of circulating coins covered countries with 75% of the world population, and shows that the majority of the world population lives in countries where coins release nickel. Pertinently, ∼ 40% of circulating coin denominations do not release nickel., (© 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.)

Background: China and Thailand produce large amounts of jewellery that are sold domestically and abroad., Objective: To identify nickel release and metal content in earrings purchased in China and Thailand., Methods: A total of 557 earrings were randomly purchased from vendors in 11 markets located in Beijing, Chengdu, Bangkok, Patong Beach, and Hat Yai. Earrings were subjected to dimethylglyoxime (DMG) tests and 26 of the DMG negative earrings were further evaluated qualitatively for major and minor metal content using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry., Results: A total of 314 Chinese earrings (31.5%) and 243 Thai earrings (29.2%) were DMG test positive. Three (11.5%) of 29 DMG negative earrings contained nickel as a major component; 7 (26.9%) of 29 DMG negative earrings contained nickel as a minor component., Discussion: Excessive nickel release was frequent. This may contribute to the high prevalence of nickel allergy in both countries. Increased public education together with the adoption of a regulatory intervention in Thailand may be warranted. In China, enforcement of the 2002 Chinese National Standard GB 11887 may assist in reducing sensitization. These initiatives may eventually result in decreased morbidity among the Chinese and Thai citizens, but can potentially benefit recipient countries of these important earring producing countries.