ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cosmetic products contribute considerably to the incidence of contact dermatitis. In response to a resolution of the Council of Europe, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in The Netherlands set up a pilot project to report undesirable effects attributed to cosmetic products. OBJECTIVES: To provide an overview of undesirable effects attributed to cosmetic products and to identify the ingredients involved. The information could contribute to the assessment of whether current EU legislation on cosmetics provides adequate protection. PATIENTS/METHODS: General practitioners, dermatologists and consumers in The Netherlands completed questionnaires on reported undesirable effects of cosmetics. Dermatologists also carried out patch tests and, where necessary, tests with specific batch ingredients of the associated cosmetic product. A website and a public awareness campaign were launched to encourage consumers to report undesirable effects. RESULTS: Between July 2009 and May 2011, the RIVM received more than 1600 reports. Severe undesirable effects were claimed in 1-4% of the cases. The most frequently reported cosmetic products were make-up and moisturisers, and the most frequently identified allergens were isothiazolinones and fragrance ingredients. Three patients tested positive for co-polymers/cross-polymers. CONCLUSIONS: Further investigations are recommended on the prevalence of isothiazolinone-induced allergic contact dermatitis and the allergenic potential of co-polymers/cross-polymers.
Subject(s)
Cosmetics/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology , Epidemiological Monitoring , Female , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands , Pilot Projects , Young AdultSubject(s)
Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/etiology , Dermatitis, Occupational/etiology , Fabaceae/adverse effects , Adult , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Dermatitis, Allergic Contact/drug therapy , Dermatitis, Occupational/drug therapy , Humans , Male , Mometasone Furoate , Patch Tests , Pregnadienediols/therapeutic use , Wood/adverse effectsABSTRACT
Since 2003, a lymphogranuloma venereum epidemic has been reported in The Netherlands and other European countries. This epidemic is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovariant L2b and has only been seen in men having sex with men. The authors investigated a woman presenting with a bubo in her right groin. The authors showed by real-time PCR that the woman was infected with C trachomatis, serovariant L2b. This is the first reported case study of a female patient with bubonic lymphogranuloma venereum caused by serovariant L2b, which was probably contracted via her bisexual male partner.
