title: Patch tests with commercial hair dye products in patients with allergic contact dermatitis to para-phenylenediamine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hair dye is one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. The main allergen has been identified as para-phenylenediamine. To prevent the recurrence of contact dermatitis to para-phenylenediamine, patients should discontinue the use of para-phenylenediamine-containing hair dye products. However, many patients are unable to discontinue their use for cosmetic or social reasons. Sometimes, they continue to have symptoms even after switching to so-called "less allergenic" hair dyes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety of 15 commercially available hair dye products in patients with allergic contact dermatitis due to para-phenylenediamine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed patch tests using 15 hair dyes that were advertised as "hypoallergenic," "no para-phenylenediamine" and "non-allergenic" products in the market.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty three patients completed the study and 20 (87.0%) patients had a positive patch test reaction to at least one product. While four (26.7%) hair dye products contained para-phenylenediamine, 10 (66.7%) out of 15 contained m- aminophenol and 7 (46.7%) contained toluene-2,5-diamine sulfate. Only one product did not elicit a positive reaction in any patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Small sample size and possibility of false-positive reactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dermatologists should educate patients with allergic contact dermatitis to para-phenylenediamine about the importance of performing sensitivity testing prior to the actual use of any hair dye product, irrespective of how it is advertised or labelled.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Busan St. Mary's Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Jeong
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University; Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hoon-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University; Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Byung-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University; Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Moon-Bum
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University; Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University, Yangsan Hospital, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006202:Hair Dyes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods*; D010655:Phenylenediamines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D006202:Hair Dyes; D010655:Phenylenediamines; C029728:4-phenylenediamine