title: Allergic contact dermatitis from oleyl alcohol in Elidel cream.
abstract: We report an atopic dermatitis patient with recurrent hand dermatitis who developed a severe allergic contact dermatitis from the use of Elidel cream. Diagnostic patch tests showed an isolated contact allergy to the emulsifier oleyl alcohol present in the product. Pimecrolimus appeared to have had an aggravating effect on the dermatitis in spite of its immunosuppressive effects. The initial clinical appearance of the patient's widespread dermatitis was atypical with resemblance to subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Even though emulsifiers are widely used in topical products, contact allergic reactions to these are relatively uncommon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy Center, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000, Odense, Denmark. keandersen@health.sdu.dk
authors.forename: Klaus Ejner
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Sigurd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Broesby-Olsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; C010268:oleyl alcohol; C117268:pimecrolimus; D016559:Tacrolimus