The American Contact Dermatitis Society was formed in 1989 to promote, support, develop, and stimulate information about contact dermatitis and occupational skin disease to the medical community. In partnership with the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG), an investigative research group that monitors evolving trends in contact dermatitis, Ponciano Cruz, MD, editor of Dermatitis developed the “Allergen of the Year” Award.
The initial intent for developing the award was academic in nature. The “Allergen of the Year” distinction draws attention to those agents not just with significant clinical effects, but also those that are underrecognized, currently obsolete, or for which exposure patterns have changed. In light of these goals, alkyl glucosides have been deemed the 2017 “Allergen of the Year.”1
Alkyl glucosides are a family of gentle surfactants that are increasingly used in a wide range of cosmetics and household products. Far from being new, these were first introduced in the 1930s and were superseded by synthetic detergents. The industry has recently rediscovered them to replace synthetic products such as sodium lauryl sulfate, which have endured negative coverage in the lay press. Indeed, alkyl glucosides possess very mild irritant properties, and they are of a natural renewable origin, as they result from the condensation of glucose extracted from potato starch and fatty alcohol derived from coconuts.
The 19 distinct members of the alkyl glucoside family have been deemed safe for use by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, a group composed of toxicologists, pharmacologists, pathologists, and dermatologists. 2 Decyl glucoside and lauryl glucoside are most widely used and are found in rinse-off products, such as shampoos, hair conditioners, shower gels, as well as leave-on products including deodorants, moisturizers, and sunscreens.
Allergic contact dermatitis from alkyl glucosides does not occur frequently. The NACDG has been routinely patch testing patients with decyl glucoside since 2009 and reports sensitization rates below 2%. The group has, however, noted an upward trend, from 1.5% in 2009-2012, to 1.7% during the period 2013-2014, and finally a preliminary rate of 1.9% for the current time period.
Why then did such a group of seemingly innocuous and natural products gain the attention of contact dermatitis specialists? The first reason is the need to raise awareness among the dermatological and industrial communities of these emergent allergens. Second, as already noted by the NACDG and a
French research group, the increasing use of glucosides in products that contact the skin will likely translate to an increase in the rate of sensitization. Finally, even though the incidence of allergic contact dermatitis to alkyl glucosides remains low, a positive patch test reaction to this allergen has a high degree of clinical relevance.
While alkyl glucosides are not potent sensitizers, certain patient populations may be at increased risk of sensitization, most notably atopic individuals.It has been shown that atopic patients (those with childhood onset eczema, asthma, or rhinitis) are at increased risk for developing allergic contact dermatitis to less potent allergens.3 Further, alkyl glucosides are commonly found in products marketed as hypoallergenic or being safe for sensitive skin. Therefore, it is not surprising that 86% of the decyl and/or lauryl glucoside allergic patients in the MUHC cohort had a history of atopy.4
Patients and physicians need to be made aware of this group of allergens in order to appropriately screen for unrecognized allergic contact dermatitis to the alkyl glucosides, particularly in patients with atopic dermatitis.
Dr Sasseville is professor in the department of medicine, division of dermatology, faculty of medicine at McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is a member of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group.
References
1. Loranger C, Alfalah M, Ferrier Le Bouedec MC, Sasseville D. Alkyl Glucosides in Contact Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2017;28(1):5-13.
2. Fiume M, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Alan Andersen F. Final report on the safety assessment of sodium cetearyl sulfate and related alkyl sulfates as used in cosmetics. Int J Toxicol.2010;29(3 Suppl):115S-32S
3. Kohli N, Nedorost S. Inflamed skin predisposes to sensitization to less potent allergens. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;75(2):312-317
4. Sasseville D, Loranger C et al Contact Dermatitis from Alkyl Glucosides; the McGill University Health Centre Experience. Oral presentation at the ACDS March 2, 2017 meeting.
The American Contact Dermatitis Society was formed in 1989 to promote, support, develop, and stimulate information about contact dermatitis and occupational skin disease to the medical community. In partnership with the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG), an investigative research group that monitors evolving trends in contact dermatitis, Ponciano Cruz, MD, editor of Dermatitis developed the “Allergen of the Year” Award.
The initial intent for developing the award was academic in nature. The “Allergen of the Year” distinction draws attention to those agents not just with significant clinical effects, but also those that are underrecognized, currently obsolete, or for which exposure patterns have changed. In light of these goals, alkyl glucosides have been deemed the 2017 “Allergen of the Year.”1
Alkyl glucosides are a family of gentle surfactants that are increasingly used in a wide range of cosmetics and household products. Far from being new, these were first introduced in the 1930s and were superseded by synthetic detergents. The industry has recently rediscovered them to replace synthetic products such as sodium lauryl sulfate, which have endured negative coverage in the lay press. Indeed, alkyl glucosides possess very mild irritant properties, and they are of a natural renewable origin, as they result from the condensation of glucose extracted from potato starch and fatty alcohol derived from coconuts.
The 19 distinct members of the alkyl glucoside family have been deemed safe for use by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, a group composed of toxicologists, pharmacologists, pathologists, and dermatologists. 2 Decyl glucoside and lauryl glucoside are most widely used and are found in rinse-off products, such as shampoos, hair conditioners, shower gels, as well as leave-on products including deodorants, moisturizers, and sunscreens.
Allergic contact dermatitis from alkyl glucosides does not occur frequently. The NACDG has been routinely patch testing patients with decyl glucoside since 2009 and reports sensitization rates below 2%. The group has, however, noted an upward trend, from 1.5% in 2009-2012, to 1.7% during the period 2013-2014, and finally a preliminary rate of 1.9% for the current time period.
Why then did such a group of seemingly innocuous and natural products gain the attention of contact dermatitis specialists? The first reason is the need to raise awareness among the dermatological and industrial communities of these emergent allergens. Second, as already noted by the NACDG and a
French research group, the increasing use of glucosides in products that contact the skin will likely translate to an increase in the rate of sensitization. Finally, even though the incidence of allergic contact dermatitis to alkyl glucosides remains low, a positive patch test reaction to this allergen has a high degree of clinical relevance.
While alkyl glucosides are not potent sensitizers, certain patient populations may be at increased risk of sensitization, most notably atopic individuals.It has been shown that atopic patients (those with childhood onset eczema, asthma, or rhinitis) are at increased risk for developing allergic contact dermatitis to less potent allergens.3 Further, alkyl glucosides are commonly found in products marketed as hypoallergenic or being safe for sensitive skin. Therefore, it is not surprising that 86% of the decyl and/or lauryl glucoside allergic patients in the MUHC cohort had a history of atopy.4
Patients and physicians need to be made aware of this group of allergens in order to appropriately screen for unrecognized allergic contact dermatitis to the alkyl glucosides, particularly in patients with atopic dermatitis.
Dr Sasseville is professor in the department of medicine, division of dermatology, faculty of medicine at McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is a member of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group.
References
1. Loranger C, Alfalah M, Ferrier Le Bouedec MC, Sasseville D. Alkyl Glucosides in Contact Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2017;28(1):5-13.
2. Fiume M, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Alan Andersen F. Final report on the safety assessment of sodium cetearyl sulfate and related alkyl sulfates as used in cosmetics. Int J Toxicol.2010;29(3 Suppl):115S-32S
3. Kohli N, Nedorost S. Inflamed skin predisposes to sensitization to less potent allergens. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;75(2):312-317
4. Sasseville D, Loranger C et al Contact Dermatitis from Alkyl Glucosides; the McGill University Health Centre Experience. Oral presentation at the ACDS March 2, 2017 meeting.
The American Contact Dermatitis Society was formed in 1989 to promote, support, develop, and stimulate information about contact dermatitis and occupational skin disease to the medical community. In partnership with the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG), an investigative research group that monitors evolving trends in contact dermatitis, Ponciano Cruz, MD, editor of Dermatitis developed the “Allergen of the Year” Award.
The initial intent for developing the award was academic in nature. The “Allergen of the Year” distinction draws attention to those agents not just with significant clinical effects, but also those that are underrecognized, currently obsolete, or for which exposure patterns have changed. In light of these goals, alkyl glucosides have been deemed the 2017 “Allergen of the Year.”1
Alkyl glucosides are a family of gentle surfactants that are increasingly used in a wide range of cosmetics and household products. Far from being new, these were first introduced in the 1930s and were superseded by synthetic detergents. The industry has recently rediscovered them to replace synthetic products such as sodium lauryl sulfate, which have endured negative coverage in the lay press. Indeed, alkyl glucosides possess very mild irritant properties, and they are of a natural renewable origin, as they result from the condensation of glucose extracted from potato starch and fatty alcohol derived from coconuts.
The 19 distinct members of the alkyl glucoside family have been deemed safe for use by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, a group composed of toxicologists, pharmacologists, pathologists, and dermatologists. 2 Decyl glucoside and lauryl glucoside are most widely used and are found in rinse-off products, such as shampoos, hair conditioners, shower gels, as well as leave-on products including deodorants, moisturizers, and sunscreens.
Allergic contact dermatitis from alkyl glucosides does not occur frequently. The NACDG has been routinely patch testing patients with decyl glucoside since 2009 and reports sensitization rates below 2%. The group has, however, noted an upward trend, from 1.5% in 2009-2012, to 1.7% during the period 2013-2014, and finally a preliminary rate of 1.9% for the current time period.
Why then did such a group of seemingly innocuous and natural products gain the attention of contact dermatitis specialists? The first reason is the need to raise awareness among the dermatological and industrial communities of these emergent allergens. Second, as already noted by the NACDG and a
French research group, the increasing use of glucosides in products that contact the skin will likely translate to an increase in the rate of sensitization. Finally, even though the incidence of allergic contact dermatitis to alkyl glucosides remains low, a positive patch test reaction to this allergen has a high degree of clinical relevance.
While alkyl glucosides are not potent sensitizers, certain patient populations may be at increased risk of sensitization, most notably atopic individuals.It has been shown that atopic patients (those with childhood onset eczema, asthma, or rhinitis) are at increased risk for developing allergic contact dermatitis to less potent allergens.3 Further, alkyl glucosides are commonly found in products marketed as hypoallergenic or being safe for sensitive skin. Therefore, it is not surprising that 86% of the decyl and/or lauryl glucoside allergic patients in the MUHC cohort had a history of atopy.4
Patients and physicians need to be made aware of this group of allergens in order to appropriately screen for unrecognized allergic contact dermatitis to the alkyl glucosides, particularly in patients with atopic dermatitis.
Dr Sasseville is professor in the department of medicine, division of dermatology, faculty of medicine at McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He is a member of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group.
References
1. Loranger C, Alfalah M, Ferrier Le Bouedec MC, Sasseville D. Alkyl Glucosides in Contact Dermatitis. Dermatitis. 2017;28(1):5-13.
2. Fiume M, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr, Shank RC, Slaga TJ, Snyder PW, Alan Andersen F. Final report on the safety assessment of sodium cetearyl sulfate and related alkyl sulfates as used in cosmetics. Int J Toxicol.2010;29(3 Suppl):115S-32S
3. Kohli N, Nedorost S. Inflamed skin predisposes to sensitization to less potent allergens. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;75(2):312-317
4. Sasseville D, Loranger C et al Contact Dermatitis from Alkyl Glucosides; the McGill University Health Centre Experience. Oral presentation at the ACDS March 2, 2017 meeting.
