Trends in preservative allergy: Benzisothiazolinone emerges from the pack. (20th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: King, Natalie; Latheef, Faheem; Wilkinson, Mark
• Is Part Of: Contact dermatitis. Volume 85:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 637
• Page End: 642
• Publication Date: 2021-09-20
• Subjects: allergy -- benzisothiazolinone CAS no. 2634‐33‐5 -- epidemiology -- methylchloroisothiazolinone -- methylisothiazolinone -- octylisothiazolinone -- preservative -- sodium metabisulfite; Contact dermatitis -- Periodicals; 616.51
• DOI: 10.1111/cod.13968
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0105-1873

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Preservatives are used widely in cosmetic, household, and industrial products to prevent microbial growth and spoiling of the products. There has been a recent epidemic of contact allergy to methylisothiazolinone (MI). Objectives: To establish emerging trends in preservative contact allergy as MI is replaced. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on consecutively patch‐tested patients at our center from January 2011 to December 2019. Results: A total of 7846 consecutively patch‐tested patients were included who were patch tested between January 2011 and December 2019. The prevalence of allergy to MI fell from a peak of 9.39% in 2013 to 1.98% in 2019. MI/methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) followed a similar trend, with a peak prevalence of 7.85% in 2014 and falling to 1.39% in 2018. The prevalence of contact allergy to benzisothiazolinone (BIT) has increased steadily increased in 2014 from 0.26% (confidence interval [CI] 0.03‐0.93) to 3.42% (CI 2.43‐4.66) in 2019. Conclusions: Our data show a significant increase in the prevalence of contact allergy to BIT over the last 6 years, probably as a consequence of increased use in household products. It is essential to continue to look for emerging trends in contact allergy to enable prompt preventative measures to be taken.