engleski

Frequency of positive reactions to fragrance mix in Zagreb, Croatia. Epidemiology

Allergy to fragrance mixture (FM) can be serious clinical problem especially in atopic individuals because of widespread use of fragranced materials like creams, lotions, detergents and other personal and household products. Fragrance is also the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), next to nickel. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of ACD using patch testing according International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG), caused by FM during 2001 – 2005 in Zagreb, Croatia. During five years period out of a total number of 27815 patients, 3065 (11%) patients with contact dermatitis were estimated ; out of them allergic to fragrance mix was 509 (16, 6%), and to balsam of Peru 258 (8, 4%) patients. Between them 157 of patients were patch tested with eight individual constituents of the fragrance mix, which includes: cinnamic aldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, eugenol, isoeugenol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, α amil cinnamic aldehyde and oak moss. The most frequent allergen were isoeugenol 57, 9% (91/157), eugenol 55, 4% (87/157), cinnamic alcohol 34, 4% (54/157) and oak moos 24, 2% (38/157). There were 62 of patients (39.5%) with positive reaction to both allergens – balsam of Peru and FM. Isogenol, eugenol, cinnamic alcohol and cinnamic aldehyde were the most frequent allergens. Screening patch test for detection of ACD due to FM is essential with individual components. Fragrance mix and balsam of Peru are frequent contact allergens. It is important to avoid proven allergens in every day life, in industry and cosmetic toiletry. Better cooperation between industry and dermatologists to prevent ACD is needed.

fragrance mix; balsam of Peru; allergic contact dermatitis

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