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. 2026 Mar;94(3):272-285.
doi: 10.1111/cod.70048. Epub 2025 Dec 9.

Anogenital Contact Dermatitis in Spain: A REIDAC Study of Patients Undergoing Patch Testing in 2019-2024

Mercè Grau-Pérez  1   2 , Pedro Mercader-García  3 , Ana María Giménez-Arnau  4 , Tatiana Sanz-Sánchez  5 , Violeta Zaragoza Ninet  6 , Susana Córdoba Guijarro  7 , Francisco Javier Miquel Miquel  8 , Juan Francisco Silvestre Salvador  9 , Ricardo González-Pérez  10 , Inmaculada Ruíz González  11 , Esther Serra Baldrich  12 , José Manuel Carrascosa  13 , Francisco Javier Ortiz de Frutos  14 , Mercedes Rodríguez Serna  15 , María Elena Gatica Ortega  16 , Carmen Paredes Suárez  17 , Francisco José Navarro Triviño  18 , Pablo Chicharro  19 , Marta Andreu  20 , Araceli Sánchez Gilo  21 , José Juan Pereyra Rodríguez  22 , María Antonia Pastor Nieto  23 , Gemma Melé-Ninot  24 , Paloma Sánchez-Pedreño Guillén  25 , Enrique Gómez de la Fuente  26 , Marta Elosua-González  1 , Mónica Munera-Campos  13 , Fátima Tous Romero  14 , Miguel Ángel Descalzo  2 , Leopoldo Borrego  27
Affiliations

Anogenital Contact Dermatitis in Spain: A REIDAC Study of Patients Undergoing Patch Testing in 2019-2024

Mercè Grau-Pérez et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2026 Mar.

Abstract

Background: The REIDAC (Spanish Registry for Research in Contact Dermatitis) conducts nationwide epidemiological surveillance of contact dermatitis in Spain. Anogenital involvement within REIDAC has not been previously studied.

Objectives: To describe the most common diagnoses and update relevant allergens in patients with anogenital lesions referred for patch testing.

Methods: We analysed patients who underwent patch testing within REIDAC from 2019 to 2024. Patients were classified into three groups: (G1) exclusively anogenital lesions, (G2) no anogenital involvement and (G3) both anogenital and non-anogenital lesions. Sensitisation and relevance were assessed.

Results: Among 18 291 patients, 116 (0.6%) had exclusively anogenital lesions, 17 576 (96.1%) had no anogenital involvement and 599 (3.3%) had both. G1 patients were more likely to have at least one positive reaction (91.4%), a current relevant reaction (53.4%, diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis, ACD) and to be polysensitised compared to other groups (p < 0.001). 14.5% of anogenital ACD identified cases were not identified by the Spanish baseline series. Fragrances, preservatives, topical anaesthetics and steroids were the leading relevant allergens. Benzisothiazolinone, sodium metabisulfite and propolis emerged as new sensitisers.

Conclusion: ACD was highly prevalent among patients with anogenital lesions referred for patch testing. The threshold for patch testing in these patients may need reconsideration.

Keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; allergy; anogenital; dermatology; environmental medicine; epidemiology; genital diseases.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ana María Giménez‐Arnau is or recently was a speaker and/or advisor for and/or has received research funding from Almirall, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Avene, Blue‐Print, Celltrion, Celldex, Escient Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, GSK, Harmonic Bio, Incyte, Instituto Carlos III–FEDER, Jaspers, LEO Pharma, Menarini, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Noucor, Novartis, Sanofi‐Regeneron, Septerna, Servier, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Uriach Pharma. Pablo Chicharro has participated in advisory boards, panel discussions and clinical trials organised by the following companies: Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Almirall, La Roche‐Posay, Sanofi Genzyme, Lilly, AbbVie, Novartis, LEO Pharma and Pfizer‐Wyeth. Marta Elosua‐González has participated as a researcher and/or speaker and/or consultant for AbbVie, Lilly, Galderma, LEO Pharma, Pfizer, ISDIN, Almirall, Novartis, UCB Pharma and Sanofi Genzyme. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest with this study.

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