Patch Testing with Ammonium Persulfate: The North American Contact Dermatitis Group Experience, 2015-2018

Hair Product Allergy: A Review of Epidemiology and Management

Allergy to hair products is an increasingly common issue among people given the exposure to these products on a daily basis. Allergic reactions could be in the form of delayed-type contact dermatitis or the form of immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions. Hair products contain many ingredients and chemicals that patients may have allergies to, but common allergens are hair dyes, fragrances, persulfate salts, ammonium thioglycolate, coconut fatty acid derivatives, and acrylates. Allergy to hair dye is the most common followed by other allergens such as fragrances and persulfate salts. We discussed testing for hair dye allergy along with suggestions for alternative hair dyes that patients may use. Allergy to topical scalp medications is also seen in patients using those products. Allergy to topical minoxidil is seen more often due to the increased use of minoxidil sprays and foams among patients to increase hair growth. We will discuss in this review the diagnosis and alternatives for patients with minoxidil allergy. Hairdressers are at higher risk of allergy to hair products compared to the general population due to prolonged exposure to allergens and specific measures should be implemented to minimize the hazards of exposure.

An uncommon cause of swimmer's rash: Allergic contact dermatitis to persulfates in pools

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an important diagnosis to consider in patients with dermatitis following specific exposures. Classically, ACD from persulfates is associated with hair-bleaching products and spa water/swimming pool exposure and is most commonly reported in adult men. We report a case of ACD to potassium peroxymonopersulfate (PPMS), a common pool "shocking" chemical, in a 7-year-old boy presenting with recurrent and diffuse dermatitis triggered by swimming pool exposure.

Potential for Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Popular Hair Care Practices and Ingredients

The incidence of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) due to personal care products is rising in parallel with increasing product availability and consumer interest. Hair products specifically represent a significant source of potential allergens, including preservatives, surfactants, emulsifiers, fragrances, adhesives, and dyes. ACD due to hair care products can present as dermatitis in the distinctive "rinse-off" distribution, involving the neck, eyelids, and lateral face in addition to the scalp. Herein, the authors review ingredients in hair care products that can cause ACD and practical tips for allergen identification.

Diagnostics and Prevention of Occupational Allergy in Hairdressers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This study aims to provide an overview on current knowledge on occupational allergic diseases in hairdressers and up-to-date perspectives of prevention.

RECENT FINDINGS

Hand eczema (dermatitis) is common in hairdressers, often caused by contact allergy to one or multiple small molecules (haptens) used, e.g., for dyeing, bleaching, and waving/relaxing or by ancillary substances such as preservatives. Hairdressers, compared to other patch-tested patients, have an up to fivefold increased risk to be found sensitized, e.g., against p-phenylenediamine, ammonium persulfate, and glyceryl thioglycolate. Some of these small molecules may induce respiratory sensitization causing allergic rhinitis and/or asthma, notably persulfate salts. Occupational hazards in hairdressing are well described. This knowledge needs to be put into use for risk reduction, mainly by substitution of allergenic ingredients by less allergenic ones, education, and use of ventilation and suitable single-use gloves.

Epigenetic Modification of PD-1/PD-L1-Mediated Cancer Immunotherapy against Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is one of the representative skin cancers with unfavorable clinical behavior. Immunotherapy is currently used for the treatment, and it dramatically improves clinical outcomes in patients with advanced malignant melanoma. On the other hand, not all these patients can obtain therapeutic efficacy. To overcome this limitation of current immunotherapy, epigenetic modification is a highlighted issue for clinicians. Epigenetic modification is involved in various physiological and pathological conditions in the skin. Recent studies identified that skin cancer, especially malignant melanoma, has advantages in tumor development, indicating that epigenetic manipulation for regulation of gene expression in the tumor can be expected to result in additional therapeutic efficacy during immunotherapy. In this review, we focus on the detailed molecular mechanism of epigenetic modification in immunotherapy, especially anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibody treatment for malignant melanoma.