Allergic contact dermatitis from acrylic nails in a flamenco guitarist.
Acrylates are molecules that are well known for their strong sensitizing properties. Historically, many beauticians and individuals using store-bought artificial nail products have developed allergic contact dermatitis from acrylates. More recently, the use of acrylic nails among flamenco guitarists to strengthen their nails has become very popular. A 40-year-old non-atopic male patient working as a flamenco guitarist developed dystrophy, onycholysis and paronychia involving the first four nails of his right hand. The lesions were confined to the fingers where acrylic materials were used in order to strengthen his nails to play the guitar. He noticed improvement whenever he stopped using these materials and intense itching and worsening when he began reusing them. Patch tests were performed and positive results obtained with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (2-HEA), ethyleneglycol-dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (2-HPMA). The patient was diagnosed with occupational allergic contact dermatitis likely caused by acrylic nails. Artificial nails can contain many kinds of acrylic monomers but most cases of contact dermatitis are induced by 2-HEMA, 2-HPMA and EGDMA. This is the first reported case of occupational allergic contact dermatitis from acrylates in artificial nails in a professional flamenco guitar player. Since the practice of self-applying acrylic nail products is becoming very popular within flamenco musicians, we believe that dermatology and occupational medicine specialists should be made aware of the potentially increasing risk of sensitization from acrylates in this setting.
Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 19002, Spain.
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Alcántara-Nicolás
Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 19002, Spain. mapastornieto@gmail.com.
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Pastor-Nieto
Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 19002, Spain.
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Sánchez-Herreros
Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 19002, Spain.
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Pérez-Mesonero
Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 19002, Spain.
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Melgar-Molero
Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 19002, Spain.
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Ballano
Dermatology Department, University Hospital of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 19002, Spain.
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De-Eusebio
D000179:Acrylates / Q000009:adverse effects; D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D062067:Chemical Safety / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000009:adverse effects; D009146:Music / Q000523:psychology; D009262:Nails; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000179:Acrylates; D000180:Acrylic Resins; D008689:Methacrylates; C035957:2-hydroxyethyl acrylate; C005044:hydroxyethyl methacrylate; C029639:2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate
Acrylates; contact dermatitis; occupational.