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Contact allergy to polyhexamethylene biguanide (polyaminopropyl biguanide)

Sukakul, Thanisorn LU orcid ; Dahlin, Jakob LU ; Pontén, Ann LU ; Antelmi, Annarita LU ; Bruze, Magnus LU ; Hamnerius, Nils LU ; Hauksson, Inese LU ; Isaksson, Marléne LU ; Lejding, Tina LU orcid and Svedman, Cecilia LU (2021) In Contact Dermatitis 84(5). p.326-331
Abstract

Background: Polyaminopropyl biguanide (INCI name) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) are polymeric biguanides. PHMB is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial substance used as a preservative in many products. Due to our limited knowledge on PHMB contact allergy frequency and the fact that cases of allergic contact dermatitis to PHMB might be missed, we have included PHMB as a screening allergen since 2016. Objective: To report the prevalence of positive patch-test reactions to PHMB as a screening allergen in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1760 patch tested patients from July 2016 to December 2018 was performed. Polyaminopropyl biguanide 2.0% aqua was included in the extended Malmö... (More)

Background: Polyaminopropyl biguanide (INCI name) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) are polymeric biguanides. PHMB is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial substance used as a preservative in many products. Due to our limited knowledge on PHMB contact allergy frequency and the fact that cases of allergic contact dermatitis to PHMB might be missed, we have included PHMB as a screening allergen since 2016. Objective: To report the prevalence of positive patch-test reactions to PHMB as a screening allergen in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1760 patch tested patients from July 2016 to December 2018 was performed. Polyaminopropyl biguanide 2.0% aqua was included in the extended Malmö baseline series during the study period. Results: Of all patients, 1204 (68.4%) were female. Positive patch-test reactions were reported in 19 patients (1.1%). The most common sites of lesions were face, head, and neck (52.6%). There was a significant correlation between concomitant reactions to PHMB and other cosmetic-related allergens. Conclusion: The prevalence of positive reactions to PHMB was higher than that previously reported. Patch testing with PHMB should be performed in patient with dermatitis who have lesions on the face, head, and neck.

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; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
allergic contact dermatitis, cosmetics, patch test, polyaminopropyl biguanide, polyhexamethylene biguanide, preservative, prevalence
in
Contact Dermatitis
volume
84
issue
5
pages
326 - 331
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85096974814
  • pmid:33098110
ISSN
0105-1873
DOI
10.1111/cod.13728
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ac00705a-0c37-44ec-bf24-9f3a80a9445b
date added to LUP
2020-12-11 13:07:01
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:04:24
@article{ac00705a-0c37-44ec-bf24-9f3a80a9445b,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Polyaminopropyl biguanide (INCI name) and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) are polymeric biguanides. PHMB is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial substance used as a preservative in many products. Due to our limited knowledge on PHMB contact allergy frequency and the fact that cases of allergic contact dermatitis to PHMB might be missed, we have included PHMB as a screening allergen since 2016. Objective: To report the prevalence of positive patch-test reactions to PHMB as a screening allergen in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1760 patch tested patients from July 2016 to December 2018 was performed. Polyaminopropyl biguanide 2.0% aqua was included in the extended Malmö baseline series during the study period. Results: Of all patients, 1204 (68.4%) were female. Positive patch-test reactions were reported in 19 patients (1.1%). The most common sites of lesions were face, head, and neck (52.6%). There was a significant correlation between concomitant reactions to PHMB and other cosmetic-related allergens. Conclusion: The prevalence of positive reactions to PHMB was higher than that previously reported. Patch testing with PHMB should be performed in patient with dermatitis who have lesions on the face, head, and neck.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sukakul, Thanisorn and Dahlin, Jakob and Pontén, Ann and Antelmi, Annarita and Bruze, Magnus and Hamnerius, Nils and Hauksson, Inese and Isaksson, Marléne and Lejding, Tina and Svedman, Cecilia}},
  issn         = {{0105-1873}},
  keywords     = {{allergic contact dermatitis; cosmetics; patch test; polyaminopropyl biguanide; polyhexamethylene biguanide; preservative; prevalence}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{326--331}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Contact Dermatitis}},
  title        = {{Contact allergy to polyhexamethylene biguanide (polyaminopropyl biguanide)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cod.13728}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/cod.13728}},
  volume       = {{84}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}