title: Deodorants are the leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis to fragrance ingredients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fragrances frequently cause contact allergy, and cosmetic products are the main causes of fragrance contact allergy. As the various products have distinctive forms of application and composition of ingredients, some product groups are potentially more likely to play a part in allergic reactions than others.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine which cosmetic product groups cause fragrance allergy among Danish eczema patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study based on data collected by members of the Danish Contact Dermatitis Group. Participants (N = 17,716) were consecutively patch tested with fragrance markers from the European baseline series (2005-2009).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the participants, 10.1% had fragrance allergy, of which 42.1% was caused by a cosmetic product: deodorants accounted for 25%, and scented lotions 24.4%. A sex difference was apparent, as deodorants were significantly more likely to be listed as the cause of fragrance allergy in men (odds ratio 2.2) than in women. Correlation was observed between deodorants listed as the cause of allergy and allergy detected with fragrance mix II (FM II) and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deodorants were the leading causes of fragrance allergy, especially among men. Seemingly, deodorants have an 'unhealthy' composition of the fragrance chemicals present in FM II.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermato-allergology, National Allergy Research Centre, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark. mavohe01@geh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Maria V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Heisterberg
authors.forename: Torkil
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menné
authors.forename: Klaus E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avnstorp
authors.forename: Berit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Ove
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: Knud
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaaber
authors.forename: Grete
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laurberg
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Henrik Nielsen
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sommerlund
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thormann
authors.forename: Niels K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Veien
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vissing
authors.forename: Jeanne D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Johansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D003718:Denmark; D003836:Deodorants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D004485:Eczema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D003836:Deodorants; D010476:Perfume