Abstract The main allergen responsible for contact dermatitis to nail polish is tosylamide-formaldehyde resin. The so-called hypoallergenic nail polishes are suposedly free of agents that commonly trigger reactions. The commercially available products and their compositions were studied. It was observed that most brands present at least one component capable of triggering the disease; therefore, allergic reaction may occur even when hypoallergenic polishes are used. There should be a proper investigation of the specific allergen through a patch test, because more than one component can cause an allergy, and we need to check the exact composition of each product.

Estudo retrospectivo foi realizado entre 2006 e 2011 em 618 pacientes com hipótese diagnóstica de dermatite de contato submetidos à bateria padrão de testes de contato preconizada pelo Grupo Brasileiro de Estudos em Dermatite de Contato com o objetivo de avaliar a variação, a cada ano, da frequência de positividade para as substâncias da bateria. Os principais sensibilizantes foram sulfato de níquel, timerosal e bicromato de potássio. As substâncias com diminuição da frequência de sensibilização estatisticamente significante foram lanolina (p = 0,01), neomicina (p = 0,01) e antraquinona (p = 0,04). A continuação deste trabalho poderá contribuir para verificar aqueles componentes que poderão ser eliminados da bateria, por representarem pouco risco de sensibilização.

A retrospective study was carried out between 2006-2011. Six hundred and eighteen patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis underwent the standard patch test series recommended by the Brazilian Contact Dermatitis Research Group. The aim of our study was to evaluate the variation of positive patch-test results from standard series year by year. The most frequently positive allergens were: nickel sulfate, thimerosal and potassium bichromate. Decrease of positive patch-test results over the years was statistically significant for: lanolin (p=0.01), neomycin (p=0.01) and anthraquinone (p=0.04). A follow-up study should be useful in determining which allergens could be excluded from standard series, as they may represent low sensitization risk.