[A Case of Occupational Contact Dermatitis Caused by Rubber Gloves]. 2022

Hikaru Kawahara-Nanamori, and Yu Sawada
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.

A 42-year-old man working at a steel mill recognized itching and erythema on the dorsal surfaces of his hands for 2 weeks prior to his first visit to our department. Lichenized erythematous plaques were observed on the dorsal surfaces of his fingers and hands. A patch testing of the rubber part of the gloves showed a positive reaction. We also conducted a patch testing of metals to exclude a possibility of contact dermatitis mediated by metals as occupational materials. The patch testing of metals showed a positive reaction to zinc, which is not an occupational material in his steel mill, but his rubber gloves contained zinc in the rubber accelerators, which might have been the trigger that caused his allergic contact dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is the most common occupational skin disease, and various materials are the causative agents. Allergic reactions to rubber (latex) are classified into type I allergy and type IV allergy. Type IV allergic reaction is observed in rubber accelerators such as thiuram; however, our case showed that zinc allergy could be a possible causative agent in patients with contact dermatitis due to rubber gloves.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009783 Dermatitis, Occupational A recurrent contact dermatitis caused by substances found in the work place. Occupational Dermatitis,Dermatosis, Industrial,Industrial Dermatosis,Dermatitides, Occupational,Dermatoses, Industrial,Industrial Dermatoses,Occupational Dermatitides
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012408 Rubber A high-molecular-weight polymeric elastomer derived from the milk juice (LATEX) of HEVEA brasiliensis and other trees and plants. It is a substance that can be stretched at room temperature to at least twice its original length and after releasing the stress, retract rapidly, and recover its original dimensions fully. Latex Rubber,Elastica,India Rubber,Natural Rubber,Plant Rubber,Vulcanite,Natural Rubbers,Plant Rubbers,Rubber, Natural,Rubber, Plant,Rubbers, Natural,Rubbers, Plant
D013232 Steel A tough, malleable, iron-based alloy containing up to, but no more than, two percent carbon and often other metals. It is used in medicine and dentistry in implants and instrumentation. Steels
D015032 Zinc A metallic element of atomic number 30 and atomic weight 65.38. It is a necessary trace element in the diet, forming an essential part of many enzymes, and playing an important role in protein synthesis and in cell division. Zinc deficiency is associated with ANEMIA, short stature, HYPOGONADISM, impaired WOUND HEALING, and geophagia. It is known by the symbol Zn.
D017449 Dermatitis, Allergic Contact A contact dermatitis due to allergic sensitization to various substances. These substances subsequently produce inflammatory reactions in the skin of those who have acquired hypersensitivity to them as a result of prior exposure. Allergic Contact Dermatitis,Dermatitis, Allergic Eczematous,Dermatitis, Contact, Allergic,Allergic Contact Dermatitides,Allergic Eczematous Dermatitides,Allergic Eczematous Dermatitis,Contact Dermatitides, Allergic,Contact Dermatitis, Allergic,Dermatitides, Allergic Contact,Dermatitides, Allergic Eczematous,Eczematous Dermatitides, Allergic,Eczematous Dermatitis, Allergic

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