The History of Surfactants and Review of Their Allergic and Irritant Properties.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2021
Abstract
Surfactants, many of which are used as detergents, can be found in many common household items, such as shampoos, conditioners, soaps, and cosmetics. One should recognize the multitude of surfactants that are used in today's products to identify any potential allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) or irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Given their abundance in everyday products, it is understandable that many cases of occupational contact dermatitis that arise can be attributed to surfactants. The products most connected with ACD are cocamidopropyl betaine, oleamidopropyl dimethylamine, decyl glucoside, 3-dimethylaminopropylamine, amidoamine, and cocamide diethanolamine. Similarly, the most common surfactant-related causes of ICD are sodium lauryl sulfate and benzalkonium chloride. It is important for dermatologists to identify the causes and differentiate between the two, to adjust treatments and products accordingly. Here, the most frequently used surfactants, as well as their correlation between ACD and ICD, will be reviewed.
Volume
32
Issue
5
First Page
289
Last Page
297
ISSN
2162-5220
Published In/Presented At
Presley, C. L., Militello, M., Barber, C., Ladd, R., Laughter, M., Ferguson, H., Dewey, J., Pulsipher, K. J., Rundle, C. W., & Dunnick, C. A. (2021). The History of Surfactants and Review of Their Allergic and Irritant Properties. Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 32(5), 289–297. https://doi.org/10.1097/DER.0000000000000730
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
34524773
Department(s)
Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine Fellows and Residents, Fellows and Residents
Document Type
Article