Top ten allergens named

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A survey of patch tests reveals the most common triggers for contact dermatitis.
Patch testing involves placing a potential allergen on a patient's back, covering with a patch, and leaving it for two days. Then the doctor observes which ones give rise to inflammation. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have analyzed patch tests on nearly 4,000 patients over a five year period.

The patients were tested with an average of 69 allergens. Sixty nine per cent experienced at least one positive reaction and half had two or more positive reactions. The study shows the validity of patch testing in contact dermatitis, a common condition whose impact ranges from minor annoyance to major disability. The top ten allergens found from this study were: nickel and gold (both in jewelry), Balsam of Peru, found in perfume, thimerosal, used in antiseptics, the antibiotic neomycin, fragrance mix (a group of eight common fragrance allergens), formaldehyde, cobalt chloride, the topical antibiotic bacitracin and the preservative quaternium 15. All these substances are common in everyday life. The best way to prevent contact dermatitis is to avoid exposure to the relevant allergen(s). While these vary with the individual, it is still very useful to have this 'top ten' list of suspects.

Source
American Academy of Dermatology meeting 6th March 2006