Fragrance contact allergic patients: strategies for use of cosmetic products and perceived impact on life situation.
Lysdal SH, Johansen JD.
Contact Dermatitis. 2009 Dec;61(6):320-4.
Contact Dermatitis. 2009 Dec;61(6):320-4.
The National Allergy Research Centre, Department of Dermato-allergology, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Fragrance ingredients are a common cause of contact allergy. Very little is known about these patients' strategies to manage their disease and the effect on their daily lives.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate if patients with diagnosed fragrance contact allergy used scented products, how they identified tolerated products, and if fragrance allergy affected their daily living.
METHOD: One hundred and forty-seven patients diagnosed with fragrance contact allergy in a 20-month period were included and received a postal questionnaire concerning the subjects of the study. One hundred and seventeen (79.6%) replied.
RESULTS: In total, 53/117 (45.3%) responded that they had found some scented products that they could tolerate. Thirty-seven (31.6%) had not tried to find any scented products and 26 (22%) had tried but could not find any. The methods most often used were trying different products and reading the ingredient label. Of the total respondents, 17.1% reported sick-leave due to fragrance allergy and 45.3% found that fragrance allergy significantly affected their daily living.
CONCLUSION: Many patients with fragrance contact allergy succeeded in finding some scented products, which they could tolerate, e.g. by use of ingredient labelling, but a significant proportion had continued skin problems. Almost half of the patients perceived that fragrance allergy significantly affected their daily lives.
PMID: 20059491 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
