Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
11:39
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Sofa dermatitis presenting as a chronic treatment resistant dermatitis
1Dermatology Dept, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4. lynchmaeve@yahoo.ie
Irish Medical Journal
|May 22, 2010
Summary
Sofa dermatitis cases have increased since 2007 due to allergic reactions to dimethyl fumarate. This report details a patient with a two-year history of persistent, treatment-resistant dermatitis linked to this allergen.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Allergology
- Toxicology
Background:
- A notable rise in sofa dermatitis cases has been observed globally since 2007.
- This condition is increasingly associated with allergic contact sensitization.
Observation:
- The primary causative agent identified is dimethyl fumarate (DMF).
- DMF is recognized as a novel contact allergen.
- This case involves a patient with a two-year history of dermatitis unresponsive to standard treatments.
Findings:
- The patient's persistent dermatitis was directly linked to exposure to dimethyl fumarate.
- Allergic contact sensitization to DMF was confirmed as the cause of the treatment-resistant rash.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of recognizing dimethyl fumarate as a significant contact allergen in consumer products.
- Underscores the need for increased awareness among clinicians and the public regarding sofa dermatitis.
- Suggests that environmental and consumer product exposure can lead to challenging dermatological conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Chronic bowel diseases are a group of long-term conditions affecting the digestive tract, characterized by inflammation and damage to the gut lining. These conditions primarily include irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:27Acne Infection
Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by segmental, transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its pathogenesis arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. Together, these factors lead to an exaggerated immune response against components of the gut microbiome.Genetic and Environmental InfluencesMultiple genetic...
01:12Chronic Inflammation: Introduction
Chronic inflammation is a prolonged, dysregulated immune response that persists for weeks to years when the inciting stimulus is difficult to eradicate or when self‑antigens drive ongoing reactivity. Morphologically, it is defined by mononuclear cell infiltration, progressive tissue destruction, and concurrent attempts at healing via angiogenesis and fibrosis. Compared with acute inflammation, edema is less prominent while cellular infiltration predominates; triggers include persistent...
01:29Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
01:13Asthma III: Clinical Manifestations
Asthma presents with a characteristic pattern of episodic respiratory symptoms that reflect underlying airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus hypersecretion. Although severity varies among individuals, certain clinical manifestations are considered hallmarks of the disorder and often guide diagnosis and assessment.Respiratory SymptomsA persistent cough is one of the most common early features of asthma. It is frequently dry and tends to worsen at night or in the early morning,...