Magnus Bruze, Victoria Marmgren, Annarita Antelmi, Monica Hindsén Stenström, Cecilia Svedman, Erik Zimersson, Martin Mowitz
DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3799

Simultaneous contact allergies are common in individuals with photocontact allergy to ketoprofen. The rate of contact allergy to the fragrance substances oxidized linalool and oxidized limonene in ketoprofen-photo­allergic individuals were investigated in comparison with the corresponding rates in individuals without photo­contact allergy to ketoprofen, using Fisher’s exact test. A total of 4,021 patients were routinely tested with oxidized linalool; of whom 190 (4.7%) tested positively. For oxidized limonene the numbers were 3,797 patients and 111 positive reactions (2.9%). A total of 19 contact allergic reactions to oxidized linalool were noted in 29 patients (65.5%) who also had photocontact allergy to ketoprofen (p < 0.0001). The corresponding figures for oxidized limonene were 10 positive reactions in 24 ketoprofen-photoallergic individuals (41.7%) (p < 0.0001). Contact allergy to oxidized linalool and/or oxidized limonene is common in routinely tested patients with dermatitis and, particularly, in those patients who are photoallergic to ketoprofen.

Photocontact allergy to topical ketoprofen is linked to contact allergies to some fragrances. This study investigated the rates of contact allergy to 2 fragrances, oxidized limonene and oxidized linalool, in patients with and without photo­contact allergy to ketoprofen. Much higher allergy rates to oxidized substances were detected in patients with photo­contact allergy to ketoprofen. Oxidized fragrances are found in a variety of daily life products, therefore an allergy to such substances may have a high impact on one’s life. Further studies are needed to determine whether the contact allergies detected lead to actual skin problems.