Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Cigarettes

Abstract

Cigarettes are widely known to contain potent carcinogens, and their smoke contributes to many chronic and potentially fatal diseases. Cigarettes may also represent an underreported and underrecognized cause of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Potential allergens from cigarettes can be found in the filters, paper, and tobacco. This article reviews the current literature on ACD from cigarettes to understand the clinical manifestation of ACD from cigarettes, to recognize components in cigarettes as potential sources of ACD, and to describe how to patch-test patients with suspected ACD from cigarettes. The potential allergens discussed in this article include cocoa, menthol, licorice, colophony, and formaldehyde.