title: Excipients in Oral Antihistamines Can Perpetuate Allergic Contact Dermatitis.
abstract: Propylene glycol is a well-documented causative agent of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). It is also reported to cause systemic dermatitis after ingestion of foods or medicines containing it and after intravenous injection of a medicine with propylene glycol in its base. We describe two adolescents with sensitivity to propylene glycol confirmed by patch testing whose dermatitis improved dramatically after cessation of oral antihistamines containing propylene glycol. We report these cases to alert providers to the potential for worsening of ACD due to systemic exposure to propylene glycol in patients with a cutaneous sensitivity to the allergen.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tocci
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial, Worcester, Massachusetts.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Belazarian
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial, Worcester, Massachusetts.|Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wiss
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, UMass Memorial, Worcester, Massachusetts.|Contact Dermatitis Referral Clinic, Worcester, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Dianne L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Silvestri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D005079:Excipients / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010328:Patch Tests; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D005079:Excipients; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D019946:Propylene Glycol