Allergic contact dermatitis: Sex differences

Using the repeated insult test, Jordan & King (1977) observed that contact sensitization was more readily induced in females than in males. We reviewed data obtained by maximization testing of 185 test substances of which 73 were allergenic. The overall male-female sensitization rates were respectively 9.9 and 9.2%. Only with the weakest allergens (sensitizing one or two subjects of a 25-member panel) was there a possibility of female predominance in that there were twice as many panels having only female reactors as males exclusively. In these instances, the test agents were mainly fragrances. We have concluded that sex differences, in the prevalence of sensitization to particular substances, reflect past exposure and are not due to sex differences.