Focus or Prepylene Glycol

摘要

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a significant health problem for many North American patients, affecting some 14.5 million persons each year. The economic impact of this disease is high in terms of both patient morbidity and loss of income, school and work, not to mention significant expenditures for visits to healthcare providers and for medicaments.1 A correct diagnosis of ACD will improve, prevent, or "cure" the dermatitis and decrease overall costs to the healthcare system.1 Once patch testing is performed and a culprit has been identified, education becomes the critical intervention to ensure adherence to an avoidance regimen. With allergen avoidance, remission of the dermatitis ensues. Quality of life is improved with correct identification of the offending allergen(s), especially when the dermatitis is present for less than 3 years. If patients are unable to comply with the avoidance regimen, they become at risk for recurrent or sustained dermatitis or progression to a systematized presentation.