Top 10 Skin Allergens Identified

[Angel]

The 10 most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis were released in a new study from the Mayo Clinic.

The report shows the top allergens are nickel, gold, balsam of Peru -- a fragrance used in perfumes and skin lotions; thimerosal -- a mercury compound used in local antiseptics and vaccines; neomycin sulfate -- a topical antibiotic common in first aid creams and ointments; fragrance mix -- fragrance allergens in foods, cosmetics, dental products, and insecticides; formaldehyde -- a preservative; cobalt chloride -- a metal used in medical products, hair dye, antiperspirant, and items plated in metal like snaps and buttons; bacitracin -- a topical antibiotic; and quaternium 15 -- a preservative in cosmetic products and industrial products.

The study also confirms using patch testing is effective in identifying common contact allergens. The process consists of placing potential allergens covered with patches on patients' backs for two days to find out which substances cause skin inflammation.

Sixty-nine allergens were tested on 3,854 patients. Results show 69 percent had at least one positive reaction, and 50 percent had two or more positive reactions.

Other research from the Mayo Clinic shows overall, patients are satisfied with the contact dermatitis patch testing process and with the way their skin improved following the testing. The patients, however, only remember half of the allergens for which they tested positive an average of 13.4 months later.
Researchers say avoiding allergens is the main treatment for contact dermatitis, as well as corticosteroid creams for rashes, but 3 percent of patients are allergic to the topical steroids that would alleviate their symptoms.