Follicular contact dermatitis due to formaldehyde.

2 patients with textile contact dermatitis due to formaldehyde developed follicular, papular lesions. Histologically these papules showed eczematous changes in the follicular epidermis and mononuclear cell infiltrates in the dermis around the involved follicle. The skin between the papules was intact. It is suggested that the concept of "dermal" contact sensitivity does not fit for the explanation of papular dermatitis due to formaldehyde.