Report of 19 cases of photoallergic contact dermatitis to sunscreens seen at the Skin and Cancer Foundation.
We report on our experience with sunscreen allergy between 1992 and 1999 and also review the international literature on sunscreen allergy. There were a total of 21 allergic reactions to sunscreen chemicals observed in 19 patients over the 8 years. There were nine positive photopatch reactions to oxybenzone, eight to butyl methoxy dibenzoylmethane, three to methoxycinnamate and one to benzophenone. No positive reactions were observed to para aminobenzoic acid. Six patients also had positive patch tests to components of the sunscreen base. In our experience, sunscreen chemicals are the most common cause of photoallergic contact dermatitis.
Cook
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N
The Skin and Cancer Foundation, 277 Bourke Street, Darlinghurst, New South Wales 2010, Australia.
Freeman
S
S
D017454:Dermatitis, Photoallergic / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
D013473:Sunscreening Agents