Allergic contact dermatitis in the United Arab Emirates.

BACKGROUND

No data exist on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

AIM

Our aim was threefold: (i) to determine the incidence of ACD; (ii) to identify responsible allergens using the European Standard Series, TRUE TEST, and other substances; (iii) to tentatively explore population-specific reactions in Al Ain, UAE.

DESIGN

This is a prospective, descriptive, hospital-based, study.

SETTING

Tawam Hospital, Al Ain Medical District, UAE.

PATIENTS

During the years 1989-1996, 373 patients (male: female = 2 : 3), presenting with cutaneous manifestations possibly related to contact allergy, were patch tested.

RESULTS

93.8% of patients presented with dermatitis affecting mostly the hands (45.1%), feet (21.4%), face (12.6%), and legs (4.6%). Two hundred and twenty-four patients (60%) (male : female = 1 : 2) tested positive for at least one substance. Nickel was the commonest sensitizer (15%) in both genders. "Fragrance mix" (8%), p-tertiary butylphenolformaldehyde (p-TBPF) resin (7.5%), thiomersal (7.5%), chromium (7.2%), cobalt (6.4%), ethylenediamine (6.4%), neomycin (5.1%), and parabens (5.1%) were prominent allergens. Glutardialdehyde, an additional substance tested together with the European Standard Series, scored significantly (4.8%). Variations from the results reported from other countries may be explained by the specific lifestyles and customs of the UAE population.

CONCLUSIONS

Substances contained in the TRUE TEST, plus glutardialdehyde, may be considered as the standard series for patch testing in the UAE population.