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Recent increase in allergic reactions to methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone: is methylisothiazolinone the culprit?
Author(s) -
Geier Johannes,
Lessmann Holger,
Schnuch Axel,
Uter Wolfgang
Publication year - 2012
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.1600-0536.2012.02157.x
Subject(s) - culprit , medicine , dermatology , sensitization , allergic contact dermatitis , cosmetics , contact dermatitis , concomitant , preservative , allergy , pathology , immunology , myocardial infarction , chemistry , food science
Background. The frequency of sensitization to methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/ methylisothiazolinone (MI) observed in the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) was constantly around 2.1% from 1998 to 2009. After that, it increased to 3.9% in 2011, paralleled by an increase in the frequency of allergic reactions to MI in the preservative series from 1.9% in 2009 to 4.4% in 2011. MI without MCI has increasingly been used as a preservative in cosmetics and skin care products in recent years. Objectives. To epidemiologically investigate the possible reasons for this development and to analyse concomitant reactions to MCI/MI and MI. Methods. A retrospective analysis of IVDK data from 2009 to 2011 was performed. Results. Stratified data analysis revealed pronounced increases in reactivity to MCI/MI and MI in females, face dermatitis patients, and patients tested because of suspected cosmetic intolerance. The proportion of MI‐positive patients among those reacting to MCI/MI increased from 43% to 59% between 2009 and 2011. Conclusion. More widespread consumer exposure has most likely led to the increase in primary sensitization to MI and subsequently to a rise in MCI/MI reactions resulting from immunological cross‐reactions. A reduction in the maximum use concentration of MI seems advisable. MI should be patch tested in the baseline series.