Achromatizing contact dermatitis caused by rubber sandals
Zaitz, I.D.; Proença, N.G.; Droste, D.; Grotti, A.
Medicina Cutanea Ibero-Latino-Americana 15(1): 1-7
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0210-5187 PMID: 3298880 Document Number: 290413
Depigmentation due to contact dermatitis, presents itself in most of the cases as a professional disease, and in only few reports it is shown to be caused by the use of personal items. From June 1982 to March 1983, six patients were observed with a symmetrically distributed contact dermatitis, located on the upper side of the feet, showing the marks of rubber sandal straps, know as "Hawaiian sandals". All patients were exposed to standard patch tests, containing 31 elements among which, there are seven substances that are related to the rubber manufacturing process, such as: potassium dichromate, mercaptobenzothiazole, diphenylguanidine, thiuram-rubber-mixture, colophony, p-phenylenediamine, hydroquinone. The interpretation of the patch tests was done after 48 an 72 hours, following the criteria that were established by the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICORG). Five patients showed sensitiveness to at least, two of the suspected substances. Mercaptobenzothiazole and/or thiuram rubber mixture were the substances most frequently related to these cases of depigmentation. Two patients who had a positive patch test for the thiuram-mix, developed a depigmentation area on the site of the test after two weeks. Depigmentation produced by the thiuram-mix had not been related formerly and though our study it became evident that this substance can lead to it.