Contact allergy from disperse dyes in textiles: a review

Several disperse dyes (DDs) are still considered to be the most important allergens in textile dermatitis, but there are sparse data about their current use in textiles. The aim of this review was to evaluate published studies and reports on contact allergy to DDs published in PubMed during the last 22 years (1990-2012). Prevalence data are provided by study and by dye, as well as by the described clinical peculiarities of DD dermatitis. We reviewed 54 studies. In total, 26 DDs were tested. The average prevalence in screening studies was >1% for Disperse Blue 106, Disperse Blue 124, and Disperse Orange 3. There is a lack of data on patch testing with Disperse Blue 26, Disperse Blue 102, Disperse Orange 37, Disperse Orange 149, Disperse Yellow 23 and Disperse Yellow 49, which are listed as allergens by the EU Commission. It is necessary to check the purity and identity of dyes used for patch testing, confirm the clinical relevance of positive reactions by patch testing with suspected textiles, and, if the results are positive, determine the culprit dye.