Sensitization in atopic and non-atopic hairdressers with hand eczema

To investigate the capability of atopics to be sensitized to contact allergens, 143 hairdressers with hand eczema, who had been patch tested with the hairdresser's series, were studied. The 125 women and 18 men were grouped according to their personal atopic status. There were 45 eczematous atopics, 32 mucous membrane atopics and 66 non-atopics. Sensitization to at least one of the hairdressing chemicals was found in 60% of the eczematous atopics, 53% of the mucous membrane atopics and 58% of the non-atopics. The commonest sensitizer in each group was glyceryl monothioglycolate followed by para-phenylenediamine and related dyes. None of the 18 men were allergic to nickel but 40% of the women were thus sensitized. Jewelry rather than equipment was thought to be the cause. No significant difference was found between the eczematous atopics, mucous membrane atopics and non-atopics in their capacity to be sensitized to hairdressing allergens or to nickel.