Patch Testing With Benzophenone-3 and -4: The North American Contact Dermatitis Group Experience, 2013-2020.

Abstract

Background: Benzophenone (BZP)-3 and BZP-4 are ultraviolet (UV) absorbers used in sunscreens and personal care products (PCPs) and may cause allergic contact dermatitis. Objective: To characterize positive patch test reactions to BZP-3 (10% in petrolatum [pet]) and BZP-4 (2% pet) in a screening allergen series. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients tested to BZP-3 and BZP-4 was conducted by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group from 2013 to 2020. Results: Of 19,618 patients patch tested to BZP-3 and BZP-4, 103 (0.5%) and 323 (1.6%) had positive reactions, respectively: 413 (2.1%) reacted to at least 1 BZP (BZP-positive patient). As compared with BZP-negative patients, BZP-positive patients were significantly more likely to have a history of hay fever (39.3% vs 33.4%, P = 0.0134), history of atopic dermatitis (39.8% vs 30.7%, P = 0.0001), and facial involvement (37.4% vs 32.2%, P = 0.0272). Most reactions were currently clinically relevant (BZP-3: 90.4%; BZP-4: 65.8%). Common identified sources included PCPs and sunscreens. Coreactivity between BZP-3 and BZP-4 was low: 13.5% (14/104) of BZP-3-positive patients were allergic to BZP-4 and 4.3% (14/322) of BZP-4-positive patients were allergic to BZP-3. Conclusions: Eight-year prevalence of BZP positivity was 2.1%. Reactions were frequently clinically relevant and linked to PCPs and sunscreens.

• Authors: Erin M Warshaw, Michelle Xiong, Donald V Belsito, Brandon L Adler, Amber R Atwater, Joel G DeKoven, James S Taylor, Margo J Reeder, Marie-Claude Houle, Jonathan I Silverberg, Melanie D Pratt, Cory A Dunnick, Nina Botto, Vincent A DeLeo, Christen M Mowad, Howard I Maibach, JiaDe Yu, Joseph F Fowler Jr
• Journal: Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug (Dermatitis) 2023 Mar-Apr Vol. 34 Issue 2 Pg. 105-112 ISSN: 2162-5220 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 36917534 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• oxybenzone
• Sunscreening Agents
• Allergens
• sulisobenzone
• Benzophenones

Topics

• Humans
• Patch Tests (adverse effects)
• Sunscreening Agents (adverse effects)
• Retrospective Studies
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (diagnosis, epidemiology, etiology)
• Allergens
• Benzophenones (adverse effects)
• North America (epidemiology)