title: Allergic contact dermatitis in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No data exist on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was threefold: (i) to determine the incidence of ACD; (ii) to identify responsible allergens using the European Standard Series, TRUE TEST, and other substances; (iii) to tentatively explore population-specific reactions in Al Ain, UAE.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective, descriptive, hospital-based, study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tawam Hospital, Al Ain Medical District, UAE.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the years 1989-1996, 373 patients (male: female = 2 : 3), presenting with cutaneous manifestations possibly related to contact allergy, were patch tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  93.8% of patients presented with dermatitis affecting mostly the hands (45.1%), feet (21.4%), face (12.6%), and legs (4.6%). Two hundred and twenty-four patients (60%) (male : female = 1 : 2) tested positive for at least one substance. Nickel was the commonest sensitizer (15%) in both genders. "Fragrance mix" (8%), p-tertiary butylphenolformaldehyde (p-TBPF) resin (7.5%), thiomersal (7.5%), chromium (7.2%), cobalt (6.4%), ethylenediamine (6.4%), neomycin (5.1%), and parabens (5.1%) were prominent allergens. Glutardialdehyde, an additional substance tested together with the European Standard Series, scored significantly (4.8%). Variations from the results reported from other countries may be explained by the specific lifestyles and customs of the UAE population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Substances contained in the TRUE TEST, plus glutardialdehyde, may be considered as the standard series for patch testing in the UAE population.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Tawam Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors: G G
authors: GG
authors: Lestringant
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Bener
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sawaya
authors: I H
authors: IH
authors: Galadari
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: Frossard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007868:Leg Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects; D010328:Patch Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D009532:Nickel