Allergic contact cheilitis due to effervescent dental cleanser: combined responsibilities of the allergen persulfate and prosthesis porosity

Persulfate-containing consumer products in the United States market

BACKGROUND

Persulfate compounds are reactive oxidative agents increasingly recognized as contact allergens.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify common consumer products containing persulfate compounds in the United States market.

METHODS

Five publicly accessible online ingredient repositories and searches of two large online retailers were used to identify persulfate-containing consumer products.

RESULTS

We identified persulfates in 23 hair coloring products, 11 denture cleansers, 8 pool/hot-tub products, 3 paints, and 3 cleaning products.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians assessing contact dermatitis should be aware of three primary categories of consumer products that contain persulfates: denture cleansers, hair coloring products, and non-chlorine hot-tub and pool shock. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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

BACKGROUND

Ammonium persulfate (APS), an oxidizing agent used in hair products, manufacturing, and pool/spa water, can cause skin reactions including allergic contact dermatitis.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize positive patch test reactions to APS (2.5% pet).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of patients tested to the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) screening series from 2015-2018.

RESULTS

Of 10,526 patients, 193 (1.8%) had positive patch test reactions to APS. Compared to negative patients, APS-positive patients were significantly more likely to be male (43.2% vs. 28.0%, p<0.0001), have primary hand (30.2% vs. 22.0%, p=0.0064), scattered generalized (25.5% vs. 17.9%, p=0.0064), or trunk dermatitis (8.9% vs. 4.9%, p=0.0123), and occupationally-related dermatitis (22.2% vs. 10.9%, p<0.0001). Over half of the APS-positive reactions were currently relevant (57.0%); 19 (9.8%) were related to occupation, especially (68.4%) hairdressers. Swimming pools/spas (23.3%) and hair care products (19.2%) were the most common APS sources.

LIMITATIONS

Immediate reactions and follow-up testing not captured.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of patients positive to APS was 1.8%. APS positivity was significantly associated with male sex and hand dermatitis. Swimming pool/spa chemicals are important sources of APS exposure.

Potential hazards due to food additives in oral hygiene products

Food additives used to preserve flavor or to enhance the taste and appearance of foods are also available in oral hygiene products. The aim of this review is to provide information concerning food additives in oral hygiene products and their adverse effects. A great many of food additives in oral hygiene products are potential allergens and they may lead to allergic reactions such as urticaria, contact dermatitis, rhinitis, and angioedema. Dental practitioners, as well as health care providers, must be aware of the possibility of allergic reactions due to food additives in oral hygiene products. Proper dosage levels, delivery vehicles, frequency, potential benefits, and adverse effects of oral health products should be explained completely to the patients. There is a necessity to raise the awareness among dental professionals on this subject and to develop a data gathering system for possible adverse reactions.

Investigation of reactions to dental materials

Patients undergoing dental treatment can be exposed to a wide range of potential allergens, but adverse events seem infrequent. Patients with symptoms or signs of stomatitis, burning, tingling, cheilitis, oral lichenoid lesions, lip and facial swelling may relate their problems to dental treatment or to the use of dental products. Investigation for immediate type or delayed type hypersensitivity is indicated using patch testing, prick testing and blood tests for allergen-specific IgE. The main allergic reactions found in patients include contact allergy to metals, cosmetics, food additives, flavours and acrylates, and immediate type allergy to latex. Adverse reactions following the administration of local anaesthetics are seen in about 0.5% of cases, but immediate type allergy to these agents is rare. In dental staff, occupationally related problems are common and usually take the form of hand or facial dermatitis or respiratory disease. The most common allergic reactions in dental staff are immediate type allergy to latex, and contact allergy to rubber additives, fragrances, acrylates and formaldehyde. Occupational irritant problems causing hand dermatitis are probably more common in dental personnel than is dermatitis caused by contact allergy. Patch testing and tests for immediate type allergy are useful investigative methods in the investigation of patients who present with oral or facial symptoms possibly related to dental treatments and are also beneficial in dental personnel who present with hand or facial dermatitis or respiratory symptoms.

Specific immunoglobulin E in patients with immediate persulfate hypersensitivity

Persulfate salts may cause contact urticaria, allergic and irritant contact dermatitis, rhinitis and asthma. The mechanism of the immediate reactions has been unclear. Positive prick test, skin application and nasal and bronchial provocations identify immediate allergy. There is only 1 previous report of specific binding of immunoglobulin E (IgE) to ammonium persulfate demonstrated by radioallergosorbent test (RAST). In the present study, fresh 2% ammonium and potassium persulfate solutions were used for prick testing. Patients with positive prick tests were further evaluated with open skin application, immunospot and RAST. Prick testing with persulfate salts was performed in a total of 138 patients. 7 patients had a positive reaction to at least 1 persulfate salt. 6 of the patients had had skin symptoms, urticaria, eczema or angioedema, because of contact with hair bleaches. Open application on healthy skin was performed in 4 patients, and 3 out of them had urticarial reactions. The sera of 5 patients were investigated with immunospot and RAST. On immunospot, specific binding of IgE to human serum albumin (HSA)-conjugated ammonium and potassium persulfate was found in 2 patients. 1 immunospot-positive patient also had a positive RAST to ammonium persulfate-HSA conjugate. The mechanism of immediate hypersensitivity to persulfates thus seems to be IgE-mediated at least in some patients.