Foot dermatitis caused by the textile dye Basic Red 46 in acrylic blend socks

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Allergology
• Textile Science

Background:

• Foot dermatitis is a common condition.
• Textile dyes are known allergens.
• Basic Red 46 is a widely used textile dye.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between foot dermatitis and Basic Red 46.
• To evaluate the efficacy of patch testing for Basic Red 46 in patients with foot dermatitis.
• To determine the prevalence of Basic Red 46 allergy in a patch test clinic population.

Main Methods:

• Patch testing with Basic Red 46.
• Chromatographic analysis of socks.
• Clinical assessment of dermatitis symptoms.
• Retrospective analysis of 555 patients from a patch test clinic.

Main Results:

• 17 male subjects presented with foot dermatitis and positive patch tests to Basic Red 46.
• Chromatography confirmed Basic Red 46 in the socks of affected patients.
• Symptom improvement was observed in 70.6% of patients upon withdrawal of suspected socks.
• A highly significant association (P < 0.001) was found between foot dermatitis and Basic Red 46 allergy.
• The prevalence of positive patch tests to Basic Red 46 was 1.2%.

Conclusions:

• Basic Red 46 is a significant contact allergen causing foot dermatitis.
• Patch testing for Basic Red 46 should be considered in patients with foot dermatitis, particularly those using dark-colored acrylic or blend socks.
• Routine patch testing for textile dyes is recommended for individuals with unexplained foot dermatitis.