title: Irritant contact dermatitis risk of common topical traditional chinese medicines used for skin-lightening: a pilot clinical trial with 30 volunteers.
abstract: Topical traditional Chinese medicine- (TTCM-) related contact dermatitis is not uncommon but ignored. Patch and photopatch tests using 6 individual herbal ingredients and Bai-Zhi-Kao (BZK; ), a skin-lightening TTCM preparation, were conducted on 30 participants. Twenty-five subjects showed at least 1 positive reaction, including 6 (20.0%) participants who reacted to BZK. The majority reacted to Radix Ampelopsis japonica (Bai-Lian; ) (60.0%), whereas few reacted to Rhizoma Bletilla striata (Bai-Ji; ) (16.7%), Rhizoma Atractylodis macrocephalae (Bai-Zhu; ) (10.0%), Radix Angelicae dahuricae (Bai-Zhi; ) (3.3%), and Herba asari (Xi-Xin; ) (3.3%). In the photopatch test, 3 participants (10.0%) reacted positively to BZK and 10 to ≥1 constituent; however, all reacted to Radix Angelicae dahuricae (26.7%), Radix Ampelopsis japonica (13.3%), and Rhizoma Bletilla striata (3.3%). In contrast, no subjects showed positive reactions to Sclerotium Poria cocos (Bai-Fu-Ling; ). Thus, BZK and its constituents might present potential latent risk of contact dermatitis owing to the possible presence of Radix Ampelopsis japonica and Radix Angelicae dahuricae. Furthermore, TTCMs, particularly cosmetic products, must be used carefully, with ample warning of potential contact dermatitis risk.
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kao-Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzu-Chun
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-Tse
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Taichung Veteran General Hospital, Taichung 40705, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui-Lung
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Ya
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huey-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Hsiang
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8756-5113
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Departments of Dermatology, Medical Research, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Urology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Chi
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chen