The frequency of fragrance allergy in patch-tested patients increases with their age.
BACKGROUND
The most likely age of sensitization to fragrance chemicals is unknown.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frequency of allergy to the 8% fragrance mix (FM) in each decade of life in patients undergoing patch testing for the investigation of skin symptoms.


METHODS
Patients (n = 23 846; 14 104 female and 9742 male) underwent patch testing to a standard series between 1 January 1984 and 31 December 1998. All data were recorded on a computerized database.


RESULTS
We found that 8.4% of females and 6.4% of males were allergic to the FM. The frequency of fragrance allergy was low in the first two decades of life (2.5-3.4%). It gradually increased in females after the age of 20 years to peak in the 60s at 14.4% of those tested, with a decline to 11.6% in the 80s. The prevalence in males rose more slowly and peaked at 13.7% in the 70s, declining to 10.8% in the 80s. The youngest patients sensitized were aged 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the hypothesis that allergy to fragrance results from a combination of repeated environmental exposure and age-related susceptibility factors.
Buckley
D A
DA
St John's Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas' Hospital, London SE1 7EH, UK. dbuckley@doctors.org.uk
Rycroft
R J G
RJ
White
I R
IR
McFadden
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012737:Sex Factors
D010476:Perfume