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Background: Testing cosmetics and their ingredients is essential to avoid missing relevant allergens and to monitor fluctuating incidence of hypersensitivity., Objective: The aim of this study was to review the usefulness of patch testing with a customized antimicrobials, vehicles, and cosmetics (AVC) series over 15 years at a single Canadian site., Methods: Between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2019, patients suspected of having cosmetics allergy were patch tested with a 40-allergen AVC series in addition to the North American Contact Dermatitis Group standard screening series. We reviewed the patch test results of 2868 patients., Results: We consecutively patch tested with the baseline series 6103 patients, of which 2868 (47%) were also tested with the AVC series. Of 53 different allergens that were tested at some point, 26 remained in the series throughout the 15-year span. The most common positive allergens were thimerosal (4.52%), polyvidone-iodine (2.25%), propolis (2.06%), sodium metabisulfite (1.94%), dodecyl gallate (1.53%), carmine (1.10%), lauryl glucoside (1.01%), sandalwood oil (0.7%), and tert-butylhydroquinone (0.7%)., Conclusions: Although the expansion of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group standard screening series has decreased the yield from the AVC series from 21.1% to 13.9%, it still remains a useful adjunct for patients suspected of having cosmetics or disinfectants allergy.

Allergic contact dermatitis related to cosmetic use can result from allergens not routinely evaluated by standard patch test protocols. Propyl, octyl, and dodecyl gallates are commonly used antioxidant preservatives with reports of associated allergic contact dermatitis in the literature. The objectives of this review were to investigate the role of gallates in allergic contact dermatitis and to explore products containing these preservatives. A systematic review of the literature through April 2016 was performed to explore cases of reported gallate allergy. Food and cosmetic product databases were searched for products containing gallates. Seventy-four cases of gallate contact allergy have been reported. In addition, a variety of commercially available cosmetic products and foods contain gallate chemicals. Propyl gallate is the most commonly reported gallate contact allergen and often causes facial and/or hand dermatitis.

Incidence of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to para-phenylenediamine (PPD)/paratoluenediamine (PTD) hair dyes is increasing. Hair dyes utilizing gallic acid (GA) may be a safe alternative. However, pretesting is recommended. We investigated the contact sensitivity to ingredients of a dye product; GA, monoethanolamine thioglycolate (MT), l-cystein and ferrous sulfate, and an appropriate pretest method in 31 patients reactive to PPD and/or PTD. An open test was performed with the test dye following the patch test. Subsequently, a use test was performed twice, with a 4-week interval. One subject showed a positive reaction to ferrous sulfate in the patch test. Another subject reacted to the first compound alone in the open test. Thirteen subjects manifesting cutaneous lesions from previous regular hair dyeing, showed reactions at the first use of the test dye; and six had reactions with reduced severity at the second test. GA and MT are safe for use in ACD patients reactive to PPD and/or PTD. For predicting contact allergy to hair dyes, the open test appeared to be a better pretest method than the patch test., (© 2015 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Cosmetic allergic contact dermatitis (CACD) due to common cosmetic allergens in standard series has been extensively studied; however, the prevalence of contact allergy to other cosmetic allergens other than those in standard series is largely unknown. In this study, the frequency of contact sensitization to a European cosmetic series of allergens (Chemotechnique Diagnostics, Vellinge, Sweden) in healthy university student volunteers were detected in Beijing. Of 201 students studied, fifty-eight exhibited positive results, and 9 of them reported had cosmetics related dermatitis previously. The total positivity rate was not correlated to gender. The leading allergens were thimerosal (19.4%), shellac (3.0%), cocamidopropyl betaine (2.0%), hexamethylenetetramine (1.5%), dodecyl gallate (1.5%), hexahydro-1,3,5-tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)triazine (1.0%) and methyldibromo glutaronitrile (1.0%). The positivity rate of thimerosal patch test in men (9.8%) was lower than that of women (23.6%, P < 0.05, Chi square test), but no difference could be found between the prevalence of other cosmetic allergens in men and women (P > 0.05, Chi square test). These results suggested that some cosmetic-related contact allergies may be missed by just testing patients with the European standard series or T.R.U.E. test system only, we recommend shellac, cocamidopropyl betaine, hexamethylenetetramine and dodecyl gallate as the additionally candidates for patch testing in patients with suspected CACD., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Gallic acid esters or gallates are antioxidants used as preservatives in food and cosmetics. Few cases of gallates causing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) have been reported in the literature. We present a case report of a 42-year-old beauty therapist who presented with a swollen tongue. Patch testing was positive to dodecyl gallate, commonly reported as being present in edible oil and oily foods such as margarine. Our patient avoided foods presumed to contain gallates and at the 6-week review reported a substantial improvement in her tongue symptoms. We reviewed our database and found 16 (7%) definitely or possibly relevant reactions to dodecyl gallate, seven (15%) definitely or possibly relevant reactions to propyl gallate and six (3%) definitely or possibly relevant reactions to octyl gallate. Most reactions were attributed to margarine, moisturising cream and lipstick. These products are often mentioned in the literature as containing gallates; however, ingredient labelling and discussions with manufacturers made it difficult to establish whether they are currently present in foods. Ascertaining relevance for these reactions is not always possible., (© 2012 The Authors Australasian Journal of Dermatology © 2012 The Australasian College of Dermatologists.)

Background: Since 1947, the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and food industries have used gallates as antioxidants to prevent the oxidation of unsaturated fats in their products. The aim of this study was to review the cases of sensitization to gallates diagnosed in our department between 1985 and 2006., Methods: All suspected cases of allergic contact dermatitis with patch tests positive for propyl gallate, octyl gallate, and/or dodecyl gallate were retrieved from the database of the allergy section of our dermatology department., Results: Forty-six patients had positive patch tests for 1 or more gallates (36 women and 10 men, with a mean age of 42.8 years). The most common presenting complaint was cheilitis (63% of the cases) followed by dermatitis of the hands (28.26%). The most common sensitizing agent was lipstick (54.3%) followed by bakery products (15.2%). The test result was considered clinically relevant in 73.9% of the cases whereas the relevance was unknown in 23.9 %., Conclusions: In our case series, most patients sensitized to gallates attended the clinic due to cheilitis. The main allergen was propyl gallate and the most common mechanism of sensitization was use of lipstick. The most common gallate among bakers was octyl gallate. This agent was considered to be clinically relevant in all cases studied.