Cited by 76Contact Dermatitis and AllergiesDrug-Induced Adverse ReactionsDermatology and Skin Diseases

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 87 of the 87 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Contact allergy to and allergic contact dermatitis from formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers: A clinical review and update

Open access
Goossens, An, Aerts, Olivier·2022·Contact Dermatitis

Abstract

This review aims to provide a clinically useful update regarding the role of formaldehyde (FA) and its five main releasers (FRs) quaternium‐15, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, and 2‐bromo‐2‐nitropropane‐1,3‐diol (bronopol) in contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis. These ubiquitous preservatives are still often present, and sometimes undeclared, in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, household detergents, and chemical (industrial) products. In Europe, the use of free FA and quaternium‐15 in cosmetics is forbidden and contact allergy rates have been found to be stable to decreasing. However, FA/FRs still readily provoke localized (eg, facial/hand), airborne, and generalized dermatitis, and may also complicate atopic and stasis dermatitis, or result in nummular dermatitis. Seborrheic‐, rosacea‐ and impetigo‐like dermatitis have recently been reported. For a correct diagnosis, FA 2% aq. (0.60 mg/cm 2) should be used, and particularly the FRs bronopol 0.5% pet. and diazolidinyl urea 2% pet. should be patch tested separately in a baseline series. If sensitization to FA occurs, both FA and FRs should preferably be avoided, except perhaps for bronopol in case it tests negatively. If a patient reacts to one or more FRs (such as bronopol or diazolidinyl/imidazolidinyl urea), but not to FA, then the specific FR(s) should be avoided.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1111/cod.14089

Cites

87 of 87 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Formaldehyde-releasing agents and alternative preservatives continue to be present in cosmetics and household cleaning products.

    “Formaldehyde (FA)‐releasing agents and alternative preservatives continue to be present in cosmetics and household cleaning products [11, 12].”

    From Fragrance and Preservative Contact Allergens in Cosmetic and Household Cleaning Products in Turkey: Variation by Target Population, Product Type and Manufacturing Origin (2026) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Uses and Exposure section (page not available) says formaldehyde releasers are used in cosmetic and household applications and identifies several still found in cosmetics. It also says some releasers are combined with other preservatives, but does not establish that alternative preservatives continue to be present in household cleaning products. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • Preservative allergen scoring assigned 2 points to ingredients historically linked to epidemic waves of sensitization and high clinical relevance, including isothiazolinones, formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers.

    “For preservatives, ingredients historically linked to epidemic waves of sensitization and high clinical relevance were assigned ‘2’ points. These included isothiazolinones (methylisothiazolinone [MI], methylchloroisothiazolinone [MCI] and benzisothiazolinone [BIT]), FA and formaldehyde‐releasers (FRs) [12, 16, 17, 18].”

    From Fragrance and Preservative Contact Allergens in Cosmetic and Household Cleaning Products in Turkey: Variation by Target Population, Product Type and Manufacturing Origin (2026) · cites this paper as [12]

    The Introduction (page unavailable) describes formaldehyde and its releasers as important causes of contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis, supporting their clinical relevance. The paper does not establish that they were historically linked to epidemic waves of sensitization. The two-point score is the citing authors’ own scoring decision, not a finding attributed to this review. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Citations

Cites

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Crépy MN, 2016, Allergie‐dermatologie professionnelle Dermatites de contact professionnelles aux désinfectants et antiseptiques INRS, Références en santé au travail, 145, 145
  2. COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2019/831 of May 22, 2019, 2019, Amending annexes II, III and V to regulation (EC) no 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the council on cosmetic products, Off J Eur Union, 23, 30

Metadata

Authors
Goossens, A., & Aerts, O.
Affiliations
  • KU Leuven (BE)
  • University of Antwerp (BE)
Corresponding author
Aerts, Olivier
Venue
Contact Dermatitis
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2022-03-17
Volume
87
Issue
1
Pages
20-27
ISSN
  • 0105-1873 (ISSN-L)
  • 1600-0536
OpenAlex
W4214728662
Cited by
76
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 19 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 3
FWCI
2.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Contact Dermatitis (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lirias (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Contact Dermatitis and Allergies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatology and Skin Diseases
Keywords
formaldehyde, formaldehyde releasers, allergic contact dermatitis, contact allergy, quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, bronopol, preservatives, patch testing, seborrheic dermatitis, nummular dermatitis
MeSH terms
Cosmetics, Formaldehyde, Humans, Patch Tests, Preservatives, Pharmaceutical, Dermatitis, Allergic Contact

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