Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41472370›Full record

ArticleContact dermatitis2026

Contact Allergy to Ingredients of Hair Cosmetics Associated with Occupational and Non-Occupational Exposure-Trends from 1995 to 2020 in Central Europe, with or without Regulation.

Wolfgang Uter, Jakob Ferløv Baselius Schwensen, Brunhilde Blömeke, Olaf Gefeller, Swen M John, Cara Bieck, Steffen Schubert

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Contact dermatitis, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Wolfgang UterDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen/Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
Jakob Ferløv Baselius SchwensenNational Allergy Research Centre, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9756-656X
Brunhilde BlömekeDepartment of Environmental Toxicology, Trier University, Trier, Germany.
Olaf GefellerDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen/Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8985-7582
Swen M JohnDepartment of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
Cara BieckDepartment of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany.
Steffen SchubertInformation Network of Departments of Dermatology, Institute at the Georg-August University, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2359-2518

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHair cosmetic products contain various chemicals which are partly potent contact sensitizers. These may cause occupational hand eczema in hairdressers, but also scalp and face dermatitis in consumers.

objectiveTo (i) highlight differences between the spectrum of occupational and non-occupational exposure reflected in sensitization, and (ii) correlate trends in the last decades with regulatory interventions (or the lack thereof).

methodsPatch test and clinical data collected by the IVDK (https://www.ivdk.org) between 01/1995 and 12/2020 were subjected to a pooled re-analysis. Age-stratified sensitization prevalences in female hairdressers and consumers, respectively, were calculated for 2-yearly intervals spanning the study period. Log-binomial regression models were employed to estimate the association between contact allergy and (i) subgroup (hairdresser vs. consumer), (ii) a 3-level age category, and/or (iii) time period, respectively.

resultsHair dyes were the most frequent sensitizers in hairdressers and consumers; however, there was a marked increase in (particularly the young) consumers. Pyrogallol had been banned in 1992 but still elicited positive patch test reactions even in the young. Hydroquinone, banned in 2013 in dyes, showed no decline in sensitization prevalence. Glyceryl thioglycolate has been withdrawn and later banned in Germany since around 1995, which caused contact allergy prevalence to drop to almost zero in the youngest age group, largely until today.

conclusionAs a limitation, putatively differing selection for patch testing render prevalences difficult to compare between hairdressers and consumers. The importance of hair dye allergy is evident, needing continued efforts to increase product safety from the manufacturing and regulatory side. The potential of (self-)regulatory intervention is well illustrated by the decline of contact allergy to glyceryl thioglycolate.

Indexed as

Dermatitis, Allergic ContactDermatitis, OccupationalHair DyesHair PreparationsOccupational ExposureAdolescentAdultBeauty CultureEuropeFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatch TestsPrevalenceYoung AdultHair DyesHair Preparationsclinical epidemiologycontact allergyhair cosmeticshairdressersregulationRRID:SCR_001905surveillance

Identifiers

PMID41472370
PMCPMC12956424

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.