Allergic contact dermatitis caused by (meth)acrylates in nail cosmetic products in users and nail technicians – a 5‐year study

Abstract

SummaryBackground. The increasing use of long-lasting nail aesthetic products has led to a growing number of cases of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) caused by (meth)acrylates in recent years. Objectives. To provide information on ACD caused by (meth)acrylates related to nail cosmetic products. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed files of patients with ACD caused by (meth)acrylates related to nail cosmetic products, who were patch tested between January 2011 and December 2015 in 13 departments of dermatology in Portugal. Results. Two-hundred and thirty cases of ACD caused by (meth)acrylates (55 technicians, 56 consumers, and 119 with mixed exposure) had been documented, mostly as chronic hand eczema (93%). The most common sensitizers were: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), which was positive in 90% of the tested patients, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA), which was positive in 64.1%, and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, which was positive in 54.5%. Conclusion. HEMA and HPMA were the most frequent positive allergens. HEMA, which identified 90% of cases, can be considered to be a good screening allergen. The high number of cases of ACD caused by (meth)acrylates in nail cosmetic products certainly warrants better preventive measures at the occupational level, and specific regulation in the field of consumer safety.

Contact allergy to 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate in Denmark

“…The proportion of occupational cases (45%) was slightly lower compared with previous studies of methacrylate allergy . As HEMA is detected in 81.2‐92.5% of cases, this discrepancy could be explained by excluding other sensitizing acrylates in our study …”

“…2,4 As HEMA is detected in 81.2-92.5% of cases, this discrepancy could be explained by excluding other sensitizing acrylates in our study. 3,4,6 The use of UV nail polish was increasingly associated with being sensitized to HEMA over the short study period. The proportion of HEMA-sensitized female patients who had a history of using UV nail polish was increasing every year, while it remained constant for nonsensitized female patients.…”

“…79-10-7) contained as an impurity in electrode hydrogel for electrocardiogram (ECG) and transcutaneous electrical nervous stimulation (TENS), was reported. [4][5][6][7] The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of acrylic acid contact sensitivity in consecutive patients, the sources of its sensitivity, and if 2-HEMA is a good marker for detecting acrylic acid allergy.…”

Nail acrylate allergy: the beauty, the beast and beyond

“…Diagnosis of (meth)acrylate ACD is often evident (pulpitis and finger dermatitis or paronychia), but there is a substantial number of cases with atypical localizations (face, forearms), which would have been missed if testing with HEMA or an acrylate series had not been performed . Patch testing with HEMA was shown to confirm the diagnosis of (meth)acrylate allergy in the nail setting in more than 90% of cases, and the study by Raposo et al .…”

“…In recent years multiple cases of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) from (meth)acrylates in nail aesthetics have been reported . Technicians who perform acrylate‐based techniques in nail salons and consumers, namely those also exposed through home kits, are at high risk.…”