Allergic contact dermatitis to preservatives: Prevalence and associated factors

Résumé

In recent years, preservatives have caused a global epidemic of allergic contact dermatitis, mainly because of their ubiquitous presence. The purpose of the study was to establish the sociodemographic and occupational profile of the patients sensitized to preservative allergens included in the European standard Series and to identify their outcomes. A retrospective descriptive epidemiological study was conducted among all the patients sensitized to preservative allergens included in the European standard Series, diagnosed in the Dermatology-Allergy Unit Department of Occupational Medicine ward in the Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse, Tunisia, during 2006-2015. During the study period, 140 cases of sensitization to preservative allergens were collected, with a prevalence of 8.4% of all patch-tested patients during the same period. Among the studied population, 110 patients (78.6%) were professionally active. Hands were the preferred initial site for contact dermatitis lesions (58.6%), followed by the face (37.1%). Formaldehyde has been the most frequently positive preservatives with 37.1% of cases. Formaldehyde sensitization was significantly associated with the initial site of feet lesions, the initial erythematous-squamous aspect of the lesions, and the weeping aspect of the lesions. In conclusion, contact dermatitis is frequent with preservatives, hence the need for appropriate preventive measures.