Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 25, 2026
Application of Biochip Microfluidic Technology to Detect Serum Allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE)
Published on: April 21, 2019
Contact Allergy to Textile Dye Mix in Italy: A SIDAPA Multicentre Observational Study
Maria Michela Lauriola1,2, Stefania Guida2,3, Fabrizio Guarneri4
1Istituti Ospedalieri Bergamaschi, Policlinico San Marco, Dermatology Unit, Bergamo, Italy.
Background:
Disperse dyes, widely used in synthetic textiles, continue to represent a cause of allergic contact dermatitis despite restrictive European regulations.
Objectives:
To assess prevalence, clinical features, and exposure patterns of Italian patients with positive reactions to the Textile Dye Mix (TDM) 6.6% pet., and to contextualise these findings within European surveillance data and current regulatory frameworks.
Patients And Methods:
A retrospective multicentre study was performed using the SIDAPA database on patients consecutively patch-tested with the SIDAPA baseline series from January 2020 to March 2025 in 10 Italian dermatology centres. Demographic, clinical, and occupational data were statistically analysed.
Results:
A total of 7633 patients were included. Positive reactions to TDM were found in 281 patients (3.68%), mainly females (77.22%). The mean age was 46.43 ± 17.66 years. Clinical relevance was established in 59.79% of reactions, mainly non-occupational (89.88%). Disperse Orange 3 (tested in 22 TDM positive patients) resulted positive in 14 patients (63.64%). Co-sensitization with para-phenylenediamine occurred in 54.8% of TDM-positive subjects.
Conclusions:
The observed prevalence (3.68%) exceeds that of previous Italian (1.5%) and European (2%-3%) studies, possibly reflecting imports from non-EU countries with limited chemical regulation and e-commerce channels that bypass controls. Improved traceability, updated patch test formulations, and REACH compliance enforcement are essential to mitigate this growing dermatological concern.
