title: A case of contact dermatitis due to impurities of cetyl alcohol.
abstract: A 29-year-old man being treated for itchy lesions on the amputation stump of the thigh became allergic to betamethasone valerate and gentamicin sulfate cream (Rinderon VG). Closed patch tests with all the ingredients of the cream revealed positive reactions to cetyl alcohol 30% to 5% pet. Gas chromatographic analysis of the cetyl alcohol in the cream base detected stearyl alcohol (C18), myristyl alcohol (C14) and lauryl alcohol (C12) in addition to the main component of cetyl alcohol (C16). Patch testing with 99% pure analytical reagent grade saturated alcohols (C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C19, C20) showed negative reactions. Thus, it is concluded that some minor impurities in cetyl alcohol not detected by gas chromatography might be the cause of this dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Osaka University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komamura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inui
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000672:Amputation Stumps; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000032:analysis; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D007851:Dodecanol / Q000032:analysis; D004340:Drug Contamination; D004643:Emollients / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004643:Emollients; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D005839:Gentamicins; D007851:Dodecanol; C009316:stearyl alcohol; C005031:cetyl alcohol; D001624:Betamethasone Valerate; C020940:myristyl alcohol