Top 10 allergens/Mayo Clinic

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Ivanhoe, FL

Reported March 8, 2006

Top 10 Skin Allergens Identified

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.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by

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SOURCE: American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in San Francisco,

March 3-7, 2006