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Allergic contact response to vitamin A acid
Contact Dermatitis
|August 1, 1976
Summary
Topical vitamin A acid cream can cause allergic contact dermatitis. Three patients developed redness and itching, confirmed by patch testing, indicating a probable allergic reaction to vitamin A acid.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Allergology
- Dermatopathology
Background:
- Topical vitamin A acid (retinoic acid) is widely used for dermatological conditions.
- Adverse skin reactions can occur with topical treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cause of sudden redness and itching in patients using vitamin A acid cream.
- To determine if the reactions were due to contact allergy to vitamin A acid.
Main Methods:
- Case report of three patients experiencing adverse reactions.
- Patch testing with vitamin A acid cream and varying concentrations of vitamin A acid in alcohol.
- Histopathological examination of skin biopsy from test sites.
Main Results:
- All three patients showed positive patch test reactions to vitamin A acid cream and 0.05% vitamin A acid.
- Lower concentration (0.005%) vitamin A acid elicited positive reactions in patients but not controls.
- Histology revealed a tuberculin-type hypersensitivity reaction.
Conclusions:
- The observed reactions were likely due to contact allergy to vitamin A acid.
- Vitamin A acid can act as a contact allergen, inducing a delayed-type hypersensitivity response.
- Further investigation into vitamin A acid allergy is warranted.