title: Difficulties in avoiding exposure to allergens in cosmetics.
abstract: The aim of the study is to describe the ability of patients with allergic contact dermatitis to avoid exposure to allergens in cosmetics. The study is a questionnaire survey among 382 patients with contact allergy to preservatives and fragrances, included from 3 dermatological clinics. The questionnaire included questions about the level of difficulty in reading labels of ingredients on cosmetics and about patients' strategies to avoid substances they were allergic to. It also included questions about eczema severity as well as about educational level. 46% of the patients found it difficult or extremely difficult to read the ingredient labelling of cosmetics, and this finding was significantly related to low educational level. Patients allergic to formaldehyde and methyldibromo glutaronitrile experienced the worst difficulties, while patients with fragrance allergy found ingredient label reading easier than patients with preservative allergy. Reading of ingredient labels is a major problem for patients with contact allergy to allergens in consumer products. It is a general problem for all patients and not restricted to a small group with multiple allergies.
authors.affiliation: National Allergy Research Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark.
authors.forename: Eline
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Noiesen
authors.forename: Martin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Munk
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Jeanne Duus
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: Tove
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004348:Drug Labeling; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D003358:Cosmetics