Prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis to decyl and lauryl glucoside in the UK and Ireland

Abstract

Funding sources: none. Conflicts of interest: The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest. Dear Editor, Alkyl glucosides (AG), of which decyl glucoside (DG) and lauryl glucoside (LG) are those most commonly implicated in causing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), are surfactants that are increasingly used in a wide range of products, including cosmetics, sunscreens and foam wound dressings.1 DG is also a stabilizer in the ultraviolet light filter methylene bis‐benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol (Tinosorb® M) and is occasionally an undeclared constituent.2 The British Society of Cutaneous Allergy (BSCA) performed a retrospective multicentre audit, reviewing January–September 2019 data from clinical databases of 13 dermatology units in the UK and Ireland. The frequency of sensitization to DG and LG, and concomitant reactivity between them, were assessed. Patients with suspected ACD were patch tested to DG 5·0% in petrolatum and LG 3·0% in petrolatum (Chemotechnique Diagnostics; Vellinge, Sweden). Allergens were applied promptly after loading the chambers. Readings were carried out on day 2 and day 4 according to European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD) guidelines. Late reactions were not assessed. The frequency of positive (1+/2+/3+), irritant and doubtful reactions, and clinical characteristics of patients were recorded, including age, sex, atopy (atopic dermatitis, asthma and/or allergic rhinitis) and duration of the rash.