title: Citral a fragrance allergen and irritant.
abstract: Citral is a well known contact allergen and a contact irritant. Routine patch testing in the past may have been restricted because of possible irritant (IR) patch test responses. 586 consecutive patients, with hand eczema, were patch tested with a selection of fragrances including citral 2% petrolatum and the European standard series. 28 of the patients showed a positive patch test reaction (+ to +++) to citral and 82 at least 1 IR patch test reaction and no positive patch test reaction to citral. A statistically significant association between a positive patch test reaction to citral and positive patch test reactions to other fragrances compared with IR reactions (n = 82) was established. The difference regarding fragrance history found between those with IR and positive reactions to citral was not significant. Citral could be an allergen and/or irritant, worthy of further more extensive studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark. sihe@gentoftehosp.kbhant.dk
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heydorn
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menné
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bruze
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Svedman
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Basketter
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010328:Patch Tests; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010476:Perfume; C007076:citral