Allergic contact dermatitis to footwear in Thailand: Prevalence, clinical characteristics and common allergens

Abstract

Background: Footwear contact allergy is caused by exposure to allergens in shoes. The prevalence and common allergens vary by region and time due to differences in customs and lifestyle. Objectives: To determine the clinical characteristics and common allergens of patients with footwear-related allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) who attended Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, between 2001 and 2020. Methods: The medical records of 247 patients with clinically suspected footwear dermatitis who underwent patch testing were reviewed. Results: The prevalence of ACD to footwear was 1.8%. Females were predominant (71.6%). The three most common allergens were carba mix (7.7%), mercapto mix (6.9%) and potassium dichromate (6.9%). According to the allergens found, rubber (14.2%), adhesives (7.7%) and leathers (6.9%) were the three most common groups. Dorsal-limited skin lesions were significantly associated with footwear ACD. Conclusion: Rubber and leather allergens were still the most common culprit allergens. Dermatologists should keep up-to-date on common allergens in footwear and emerging allergens to include in patch test series.