title: Contact allergy caused by fragrance mix and Myroxylon pereirae (balsam of Peru)--a retrospective study.
abstract: Because of their widespread use, fragrances are among the most common causes of contact allergic dermatitis, second only to nickel. During a five-year period 3,065 patients with contact dermatitis were patch tested using a specific mix of fragrances. 509 (16.6%) patients were allergic to the fragrance mix, while 258 (8.4%) patients exhibited an allergic reaction to Myroxylon pereirae (balsam of Peru). Between those 509 patients, 157 were patch tested with eight individual substances contained in the fragrance mix: cinnamal, cinnamyl alcohol, eugenol, isoeugenol, geraniol, hydroxycitronellal, alpha-amyl cinnamal and Evernia prunastri (oak moss). The most frequent allergens were isoeugenol 57.9% (91/157), eugenol 55.4% (87/157), cinnamyl alcohol 34.4% (54/157) and Evernia prunastri (oak moss) 24.2% (38/157). There were 62 patients (39.5%) who exhibited an allergic reaction to both the fragrance mix and Myroxylon pereirae (balsam of Peru). The results prove the importance of avoiding allergens in daily life, especially in industrial and cosmetic products. In order to prevent ACD, better cooperation between industry and dermatologists is needed.
authors.affiliation: University of Zagreb, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Department of Pharmacology, Zagreb, Croatia. pturcic@pharma.hr
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Turić
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lipozencić
authors.forename: Visnja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milavec-Puretić
authors.forename: Sandra Marinović
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kulisić
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001453:Balsams / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D002648:Child; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029904:Myroxylon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D001453:Balsams; D010476:Perfume; C025080:Peruvian balsam