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Review
. 2024 Aug 29;14(3):219-227.
doi: 10.1556/1886.2024.00076. Print 2024 Sep 11.

Allergens causing contact dermatitis of the feet: Investigation and analysis of allergic reaction causes

Maria Zofia Lisiecka  1
Affiliations
Review

Allergens causing contact dermatitis of the feet: Investigation and analysis of allergic reaction causes

Maria Zofia Lisiecka. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp). .

Abstract

Introduction: Allergic contact dermatitis of the feet is a significant problem that affects the quality of life and requires attention from the medical community due to the number of studied and still unidentified allergens. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the available scientific data regarding the most common allergens that cause ACD of the feet.

Methods: Nickel sulphate, neomycin sulphate, thiuram mix and colophony occupy a significant place in the prevalence of allergies. The prevalence of sensitization to rubber and leather products can vary depending on the ethno-demographic characteristics of the country, as well as the specifics of a person's professional activity, such as the use of protective waterproof shoes, increased humidity of the microclimate, and atopy in anamnesis.

Results: Patch testing has been shown to be an important method for identifying allergens, however, not all footwear components are tested during patch testing with standard allergen series, requiring the use of patches made from patient shoe samples.

Conclusions: Expanding the scope of patch testing to include other possible allergens is important for the accurate diagnosis of ACD of the feet and a more detailed study of those allergens that were previously considered rare.

Keywords: footwear; patch-testing; polysensebilisation; potassium dichromate; rubber.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: There is no conflict of interest.

Authors' contributions: MZL wrote, supervised, and edited the manuscript scientifically and technically. She also read the manuscript comprehensively and confirmed the final revised version.

Funding: There is no funding.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Potential allergens that can provoke the development of contact dermatitis of the feet
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
A clinical example of patch testing: A) a solid arrow shows a weakly positive reaction, and a hatched arrow shows a strongly positive one; B) an example of polysensitization
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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