Contact Allergens Relevant to LGBTQI Populations: A Narrative Review and Practical Considerations

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder with significant morbidity across populations. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals, including LGBTQI populations, are exposed to unique allergens due to gender-affirming medical therapies, surgical interventions, cosmetics and grooming practices, sexual health product use, prosthetics, binding and tucking garments and body modification including tattoos and permanent makeup. Evidence highlights acrylates, colophony, fragrances, preservatives, rubber accelerators, para-phenylenediamine, topical antibiotics, latex and textile dyes as clinically relevant allergens in these populations. This narrative review synthesizes registry data, SGM-focused studies, case reports and systematic reviews to describe exposure patterns, highlight anatomical predilections, discuss practical clinical management and identify research priorities, including the need for systematic sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection in patch-testing registries.