Contact dermatitis to homomenthyl salicylate

Abstract

Two patients with follicular dermatitis were found to have a contact sensitivity to homomenthyl salicylate, a sunscreening chemical present in a commercially available suntan lotion. One patient did not use the product, but her boyfriend did, and contact between the two individuals resulted in a follicular dermatitis developing in her. A second patient with contact dermatitis to homomenthyl salicylate also had a follicular eruption. Both patients appear to represent true allergic sensitivities.

Clues to an accurate diagnosis of contact dermatitis

“…These small quantities are sufficient to produce inflammation at follicular openings, and thus, a follicular pattern of contact dermatitis develops. This type of dermatitis has been reported involving sunscreens as well as medicaments (19).…”

“…This pattern should make one think first of an irritant reaction, since many irritants can localize in the hair follicles, but true allergens may produce follicular reactions as well. This may occur with metallic allergens and allergens that have been applied to the skin in an indirect manner (19). This latter situation is encountered in what has been termed consort dermatitis.…”

An Epidemic Outbreak of Papular and Follicular Contact Dermatitis to Tocopheryl Linoleate in Cosmetics

“…Thus far. papular contact dermatitis has rarely been reported and, if reported, has been attributed to a permanent-pressing chemical [23] and to formaldehyde in textiles [24], selenium salts in the glass industry [25], homomenthyl salicylate in a self-tanning lotion [26] and methyl glucose sesquistearate in a lotion and a facial cream [27]. Ostiofollicular patch test reactions to metal salts (nickel, chromium, copper and fluoride) have been reported [ 281 and could be interpreted as irritant reac tions [29].…”

Contact Sensitization in Patients With Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Patch Test Results With an Extended Baseline Series in Consecutive Patients

“…In addition to reports showing sensitization to salicylates in patients with FFA, cases showing follicular or lichenoid skin reactions involving patients exposed topically or systemically to salicylates have been reported suggesting a possible disease specificity [33][34][35][36][37][38].…”