Disperse blue dyes 106 and 124 are common causes of textile dermatitis and should serve as screening allergens for this condition.
BACKGROUND
Textile dye dermatitis is frequently undiagnosed because clinical awareness is low and because of the absence of good screening allergens in standard patch test series for this type of contact dermatitis.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of textile dye allergy in patients with problematic eczemas evaluated at a contact dermatitis clinic, and to determine the incidence of allergic contact dermatitis to diperse blue dyes in these patients.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of 788 patients who were patch tested to either the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) Standard Series or the European Standard Series, in addition to other relevant series. The Chemotechnique textile series was utilized in 271 patients (28%).


RESULTS
Forty patients reacted positively to 1 or more textile dyes, the majority reacting positively to Disperse Blue 106 (33 of 40; 82.5%) and to Disperse Blue 124 (32 of 40; 80%). Ten of 11 tested patients reacted to their own clothing, 9 of whom reacted to the blue/black 100% acetate or 100% polyester liners in their garments.


CONCLUSIONS
Textile dye allergy is more common than previously reported. It can cause marked dermatitis and widespread autoeczematization reactions. The most frequent allergens are Disperse Blue 106 and 124, which are frequently found in the 100% acetate and 100% polyester liners of women's clothing. We recommend that Disperse Blue 106 or 124 serve as the screening allergen for textile dye dermatitis.
Pratt
M
M
Division of Dermatology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. pkelly@compmore.net
Taraska
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013784:Textiles / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000485:Allergens; D001391:Azo Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; C069319:Disperse Blue 124; C049175:disperse blue 106