title: [Allergic contact dermatitis to cocamidopropyl betaine among Israeli patients with cosmetic allergy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is an amphoteric surfactant commonly used in rinse-off cosmetic products. There is still a debate concerning the actual allergen in CAPB.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of CAPB allergy and its characteristics among Israeli patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A hundred consecutive patients with suspected cosmetic allergy were patch tested. They underwent standard and cosmetic series patch tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients, all females, were allergic to CAPB. Relevance rate was 66%. No significant characteristics were found among allergic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of CAPB allergy is similar to the prevalence worldwide. CAPB became one of the leading causes of cosmetic allergy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hadassah University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem.
authors.forename: Ofer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Raz
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Slodownik
authors.forename: Arieh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ingber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001622:Betaine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D001622:Betaine; C077055:cocamidopropyl betaine