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Histological aspects of skin reactions to propylene glycol
Author(s) -
Nater J. P.,
Baar A. J. M.,
Hoedemaeker Ph. J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1977.tb03643.x
Subject(s) - skin reaction , patch test , contact dermatitis , patch testing , dermatology , allergic contact dermatitis , medicine , irritant contact dermatitis , allergic reaction , allergy , cross reactions , immunology , antibody
In view of the increased use of dermatological preparations containing a high concentration of propylene glycol (PG) for use under occlusive dressings, patch tests were performed with pure PG in a group of 98 out‐patients at a skin clinic. No indication of a possible allergic contact dermatitis to PG could be found in the history of any of these patients. In 11 of them, the patch test reactions after a 48‐h application were positive. In eight cases the reaction was scored as one plus, in two cases as two plus, and in the remaining case a three plus reaction was observed. In view of the negative history of all patients, the observed reactions were considered to be of a primary irritant nature. Histological examination of the positive patch tests revealed some definite quantitive differences between one and two plus reactions on the one hand and a three plus reaction on the other. The findings suggest that the application of high concentrations of PG under occlusive dressings may give rise to skin reactions of a primary irritant character which may closely simulate an allergic reaction.