Allergic contact dermatitis to cobalt and nickel in a metal industry worker. Case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: Contact dermatitis is an eczematous skin reaction that is caused by repeated and direct exposure to an allergen: The prevalence of contact dermatitis to nickel is estimated at 17% in women and 3% in men, and 1-3% of the general population has allergic contact dermatitis to cobalt and chromium. Nickel, which is the leading cause of occupational dermatitis, shows reactivity to other metals; mainly chromium and cobalt. Clinical case: A 47-year old man, with previous sensitization to nickel in childhood, is a worker in the metal industry, with occupational exposure to nickel and cobalt, and showed dermatosis predominantly in the upper limbs. Conclusion: The risk of new sensitizations to metals (such as cobalt) has been increased by his previous sensitization to nickel that happened in childhood and his work in the metal industry.