DERMATITIS FROM WEARING APPAREL

Abstract

Dermatitis from most types of wearing apparel has been reported usually as isolated instances. On occasions, however, large outbreaks have occurred among the general population because of the sale of new materials containing substances of unknown toxicologic properties which were placed on the market before testing for action on the human skin. Among articles of wearing apparel, dermatitis has been reported from fabrics such as silk, wool and synthetic fibers, from leather, artificial leather, furs, rubber and rubber containing materials such as rubber gloves, dress shields and girdles, socks, pajamas, brassieres, and many others. Metal and metal alloys used in jewelry and in eyeglass frames, wrist watches and straps have also caused dermatitis. Plastics used in spectacle frames, wrist watch straps, garters and suspenders have also been reported as causes of dermatitis. <h3>FABRICS</h3> While occasional cases of dermatitis have been reported as due to sensitivity to some of the unprocessed