Textile Contact Dermatitis: How Fabrics Can Induce Dermatitis

Textile dermatitis can sometimes be difficult to diagnose due to the fact that it is difficult to clinically suspect, and when allergic, patch test correctly and advice the patient as to what garments to avoid.

The textile fibres as such are rarely the causative agent. Allergic contact dermatitis due to textiles is primarily caused by substances that are used to give the material certain qualities or performances. The textile dye mix, now in the baseline series, has proven to be a useful tool in diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis but additional patch testing with own material is advocated. Future research will hopefully facilitate the diagnostic procedure.

This review is a short update on textile dermatitis, both irritant and allergic, the present recommendations regarding patch testing when suspecting contact allergy and the advice to give to those allergic that will hopefully help the clinician in daily work.