title: Letter: Allergic contact dermatitis from sculptured acrylic nails: special presentation with a possible airborne pattern.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sculptured artificial acrylic nails are widely used in developed countries. Methylmethacrylate was first reported in 1941 as a cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Since then, occupational contact allergies to acrylates in dentistry, orthopedic surgery, printing industry and other industries have been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe 3 patients with contact allergy to acrylates in artificial nails.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patch tests with the Portuguese baseline series of contact allergens and an extended series of acrylates was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed three female patients with allergic contact dermatitis from sculptured acrylic nails. Two of these patients were both customers and also technical nail beauticians. Two patients developed periungual eczema; one patient presented only with eyelid dermatitis and no hand or periungual lesions. The tests showed positive reactions to 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (2-HEMA) and 2-hydroxypropylmethacrylate (2-HPMA) in three patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our cases demonstrate the variety of clinical presentations of allergic contact dermatitis from acrylic nails. They show the need to warn patients of persistent and sometimes permanent side effects of these nails. They also emphasize the importance of cosmetic ingredient labeling.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maio
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amaro
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D001505:Beauty Culture; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010328:Patch Tests
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D000485:Allergens; D003358:Cosmetics