Introduction: Painters and varnishers ("painters") are exposed to various contact allergens and skin irritants, and therefore, are at risk for developing occupational dermatitis (OD).
Objective: To describe the spectrum of occupational sensitizations in painters and revise the corresponding current patch test recommendations.
Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK) data from 2000 to 2019 with focus on male painters with OD, ages 20-59 years (n = 557) in comparison to age-matched male painters without OD (n = 422) and male OD patients who have had never worked as painters (n = 13 862).
Results: Male painters with OD have a significantly higher rate of allergic contact dermatitis and face dermatitis than male patients with OD who work in other professions. Positive patch tests to epoxy resin, methylisothiazolinone (MI), and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)/MI were significantly more frequent in painters with OD than in the other groups. Epoxy resin sensitization was significantly associated with face dermatitis.
Conclusions: Epoxy resin, MI, and MCI/MI represent the most important occupational sensitizers in painters. In addition to baseline, resins and glues, and industrial biocides series, the patients' own workplace materials should be tested in painters with suspected OD.
Keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; epoxy resin; face dermatitis; methylchloroisothiazolinone; methylisothiazolinone; occupational dermatitis; painter; patch test; varnisher.
© 2021 The Authors. Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.