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Eyeglass frame allergic contact dermatitis: does tacrolimus prevent recurrences?
Tokio Nakada1, Masafumi Iijima, Howard I Maibach
1Department of Dermatology, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8666, Japan. tokio@med.showa-u.ac.jp
Contact Dermatitis
|September 30, 2005
Summary
Allergic contact dermatitis from eyeglasses can cause facial lesions. Tacrolimus ointment effectively prevented recurrence in a patient who could not avoid allergen exposure.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Allergology
Background:
- Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common skin condition.
- Eyeglass frames are a potential source of allergens causing facial ACD.
Observation:
- A 35-year-old man presented with bilateral erythematous, oedematous, and erosive lesions on his nasal bridge and retroauricular areas.
- The onset of symptoms followed a recent repair of his eyeglass frame.
Findings:
- Patch testing confirmed allergy to materials from the eyeglass frame's nose pads and temples.
- While topical corticosteroids provided temporary relief, they did not prevent symptom recurrence.
- Tacrolimus ointment therapy resulted in sustained remission for 9 months, preventing recurrences.
Implications:
- Tacrolimus ointment may be a valuable treatment for ACD in patients with unavoidable allergen exposure.
- This therapy can reduce inflammation and inhibit recurrences, improving patient outcomes.
- Managing ACD requires identifying and avoiding allergens, with alternative treatments like tacrolimus offering long-term control.