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The Present and Future Burden of Contact Dermatitis from Acrylates in Manicure

  • Contact Dermatitis (A Gimenez-Arnau, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

(Meth)acrylates are chemical compounds used in a wide variety of settings such as nail esthetics and the medical field. A progressive increase in the frequency of acrylate-induced sensitization likely caused by the popularity and wide-spread use of semi-permanent polishes has been described.

Recent Findings

Several factors contribute to such scenario including the insufficient training of beauticians regarding the risks posed by the manipulation of acrylate-based manicure materials, the fact that some consumers end up self-applying these products at home, and the poor training of the general dermatologist on the specific clinical features of contact allergy to acrylates in manicure products (often misdiagnosed as psoriasis and unnecessarily treated with immunosuppressants). Knowledge of the different techniques and materials used allows the clinician to understand the characteristics and distribution of the lesions. In some cases, sensitization to acrylates from manicure, a merely esthetic procedure, has been described to cause contact dermatitis to medical devices containing acrylates.

Summary

Information regarding the risks, preventive measures, protection equipment, and training should be delivered to consumers and professionals respectively; the commercialization of these materials for the general public should be regulated and general dermatology practitioners trained to diagnose and manage these patients more efficiently.

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Correspondence to María-Elena Gatica-Ortega.

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Gatica-Ortega, ME., Pastor-Nieto, MA. The Present and Future Burden of Contact Dermatitis from Acrylates in Manicure. Curr Treat Options Allergy 7, 291–311 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40521-020-00272-w

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