Can reducing cosmetic substances help prevent chromate contact allergy?

Abstract

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis caused by Cr(VI) is often severe and difficult to treat. Therefore, primary prevention is a main goal, but secondary prevention can be valuable to ease the symptoms or prevent relapse of Cr(VI) dermatitis when sensitization has occurred. Barrier creams have been tried for many chemical substances, but until now there is no successful barrier cream against Cr(VI).Objectives: To investigate the ability of reducing agents to transform Cr(VI) into Cr(III) in an experimental situation, in order to find suitable chemicals to investigate for possible use in a barrier cream.Methods: The capacity to reduce the amount of Cr(VI) was analyzed in water solutions of acetylcysteine, cysteine, dihydroxyacetone, glutathione, and iron sulfate heptahydrate. Thereafter the reducing capacity of acetylcysteine, dihydroxyacetone, glutathione, and iron sulfate on the amount of Cr(VI) in cement extracts was investigated. The content of Cr(VI) in the test solutions and in the cement extracts was estimated by the diphenyl carbazide spot test.Results: All of the chosen chemicals reduced the amount of Cr(VI) in the test solutions and in the cement extracts to some extent. The reducing capacity was most prominent for iron sulfate.Conclusion: A reducing capacity was found for all chosen chemicals. K E Y W O R D Sallergic contact dermatitis, barrier cream, chromate, Cr(VI), hexavalent chromium, reducing chemicals

German S1 guideline: Contact dermatitis

“…In studies on the efficacy of skin protection creams in secondary prevention of allergic contact dermatitis to metal ions and urushiol, various agents (concerning urushiol: quaternium-18-bentonite, perfluoroalkyl polyether; concerning metal ions: diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid [DTPA], glutathione, iron sulfate) could prevent the development of allergic contact dermatitis in some of the sensitized patients or reduce the severity of the eczemas [228][229][230][231][232]. Pentoxifylline was ineffective in prevention of nickel allergies [233].…”

S1‐Leitlinie Kontaktekzem

“…Bei Untersuchungen zur Wirksamkeit von Hautschutzcremes in der Sekundärprävention von allergischen Kontaktekzemen auf Metallionen und Urushiol, konnten verschiedene Wirkstoffe (bezüglich Urushiol: Quaternium-18-bentonte, Perfluroalkylpolyether; bezüglich Metallionen: Diethylentriaminpentaessigsäure [DTPA], Glutathion, Eisensulfat) der Entstehung von allergischen Kontaktekzemen in einem Teil der sensibilisierten Patienten vorbeugen oder die Ekzemschwere reduzieren [228][229][230][231][232]. Pentoxifyllin war unwirksam in der Prävention von Nickelallergien [233].…”