Welcome to our website
Are you in doubt about a diagnosis, the choice of an allergen or just curious?
Then ask your colleagues
…to guidelines, master classes, reference books, the journal Contact Dermatitis and participate in task forces influencing policies in Europe.
The European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD) is the leading source of expertise, in the field of cutaneous allergy, environmental and occupational dermatitis.
Recommendations of the European
Society of Contact Dermatitis
many open access in:
Contact Dermatitis
Patch Testing 5th Edition
The full text of Anton de Groot’s well-known book Patch Testing (5th edition, 2022) is available to all members of the Society. A big thank you from The Executive Committee goes out to Dr de Groot for his generous donation of the book.
The Journal Contact Dermatitis is the official journal of the ESCD. It publishes scientific discoveries in the field of cutaneous allergy, environmental and occupational dermatitis, including chemical aspects, immunology, and drug reactions. Its impact factor is (2024): 4.6
(members have free access for individual non-commercial use)
The ESCD promotes interest in contact dermatitis and environmental & occupational skin diseases
New research in Contact Dermatitis sheds light on how common fragrance allergens interact with our skin 🔬
Hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool largely stay in the outer skin layer - but still disrupt the skin barrier by altering lipid composition ⚠️
With fragrance allergies affecting up to 1-3% of people and present in many everyday products, this study has implications for our understanding these important contact allergens.
Read more at doi.org/10.1111/cod.70157
#dermatology #skinbarrier #ContactDermatitis #AllergyResearch ... See MoreSee Less
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
doi.org
🔬 New research on frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) and contact sensitization
A recent multicentre study of 133 patients explored whether contact allergies play a meaningful role in FFA and whether patch testing and allergen avoidance improve outcomes.
Key takeaways:
• 58% of patients had at least one positive allergen - but rates were not higher than the general patch-tested population
• Certain allergens (propolis, shellac, gallates) were more frequently associated with FFA, although the relevance of these associations were often unclear.
What does this mean for practice? Routine patch testing in FFA may not be justified.
👉 This study adds important nuance to the ongoing discussion around environmental triggers in FFA and highlights the need for evidence-based approaches to its management.
Read more at doi.org/10.1111/cod.70152
#dermatology #FFA #ContactDermatitis #hairloss #ClinicalResearch #patchtesting ... See MoreSee Less
Contact Sensitization in Patients With Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia: Patch Test Results With an Extended Baseline Series in Consecutive Patients
doi.org
Sensitization to propolis, shellac and gallate mix is FFA-associated, but its relevance is largely unknown. Sensitization to salicylates is frequent and associated with symptoms of intolerance to sun....New research highlights the ongoing relevance of a common, but often overlooked, allergen - colophonium (rosin).
A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of over 459,000 dermatitis patients found:
🔍 A pooled prevalence of contact allergy to colophonium of 3.54%, higher than historically reported
🌍 Notable geographic variation, with the highest rates in Southeast Asia (~6.8%)
👶👩🦳 Similar prevalence across age groups and in patients with and without atopic dermatitis
📊 Nearly 40% of positive cases were clinically relevant
💡 Takeaway: There is a continued need for improved prevention strategies, clearer product labeling, and better surveillance of exposure.
Read more at doi.org/10.1111/cod.70153
#dermatology #ContactDermatitis #allergy #PublicHealth #research ... See MoreSee Less
Prevalence of Contact Allergy to Colophonium in Dermatitis Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
doi.org
Colophonium is present in many consumer and industrial products, including medical devices and cosmetic products. Due to its extensive use, there is an inherent risk of developing a contact allergy t....📄 New research: evolving patterns in chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD)
A recent single-centre study explored how contact allergen profiles in CAD have changed over the past decade.
🔍 Key findings:
• 60% of CAD patients had at least one positive patch test
• Higher likelihood of sensitisation in patients >40 years and those with darker skin phototypes
• Common allergens included metals, fragrances, preservatives, and p-phenylenediamine
• Notably, overall sensitisation rates (including photoallergens) appear to be decreasing over time
👩⚕️ We are also seeing a shift in patient demographics, with increasing representation of younger patients, females, and individuals with skin of colour.
💡 Despite changing trends, patch and photopatch testing remain essential in the diagnostic work-up of CAD.
Read more at doi.org/10.1111/cod.70073
#Dermatology #ContactDermatitis #Photodermatology #Research #Allergy ... See MoreSee Less
Changes in Contact Dermatitis Allergen Profile in Chronic Actinic Dermatitis: Results From a Single Centre
doi.org
This study identified changes in patch test findings in chronic actinic dermatitis patients in a single centre, with more young, female patients with darker skin types testing positive. There are dec....🌐New original article in Contact Dermatitis:
Occupational Contact Urticaria, Protein Contact Dermatitis and Concomitant Airway Diseases in the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases in 2005–2020: Main Causes and Occupations at Risk
by Ville Ojanen et al.
✳️ Study population:
2,413 cases of occupational contact urticaria, protein contact dermatitis, asthma and rhinitis from the Finnish Register of Occupational Diseases (2005–2020).
🔎 Key findings:
Concomitant skin and airway disease (CSAD) was present in 8% of all immediate occupational allergy cases.
Over one in four workers with occupational contact urticaria/protein contact dermatitis also had occupational asthma and/or rhinitis.
Highest incidences of CSAD were seen in bakers/pastry cooks, mixed crop and animal producers, and gardeners/horticultural workers.
Shared causative exposures were identified in 89% of CSAD cases, most often cow dander, wheat flour and chemicals (including isocyanates and persulfates).
🏥 Why this matters:
Immediate occupational allergy should prompt systematic assessment of both skin and airway symptoms. Early recognition of multiple occupational allergic diagnoses is crucial, as this can significantly affect work ability, need for vocational rehabilitation and long-term career planning.
📄 Full article (open access):
doi.org/10.1111/cod.70137
#occupationaldermatology #ContactDermatitis #contacturticaria #Occupationalasthma #workrelatedallergy #dermatology #allergy #escd ... See MoreSee Less
ESCD Newsletter March 2026
✈️ Travel Grants for ESCD Congress
The ESCD is offering up to six travel grants (€750 each) for juniors and trainees to attend the upcoming Congress!
If you plan to apply, please wait for your abstract acceptance (announcement due 4 March) and then send your confirmation of acceptance, a brief CV, and your abstract to the ESCD Secretary (secretary@escd.org) by Saturday 14 March. Award decisions will be made before the Congress, and grants will be presented at the Awards Ceremony on the final day.
⏰ Early Bird Registration
Don’t forget: the early bird deadline is 31 March 2026.
Register here: escd2026.org/register
🌐 Join the ESCD Social Media Task Force
The ESCD Social Media Task Force has been active for nearly three years, helping grow our online community—especially on LinkedIn! To keep this momentum, we’re inviting new members to join the team.
Interested? Reach out to Cara Bieck (cara.bieck@bgw-online.de) to learn more.
Let’s continue building visibility and engagement for our society together!
#ESCD #Dermatology #ContactDermatitis #JuniorResearchers #MedicalCongress #ScientificCommunity ... See MoreSee Less
📃 This recently published article by Sofia Botvid, Niels H. Bennike, Jeanne Duus Johansen, Alexandra Seibel, Helen Vaher, Charlotte Menné Bonefeld, Aaron Isaac Moore, Niamh O'Boyle, and Lina Hagvall, presents the results of their clinical experimental study: Repeated Exposure (ROAT) to Hydroperoxides of Linalool Induces Immunologically Verified Allergic Contact Dermatitis🪻
🔍 Key findings: Linalool elicited dose-dependent reactions in sensitised individuals during both patch testing and simulated use (ROAT). Molecular profiling of biopsy samples confirmed activation of immune pathways consistent with contact allergy to fragrances following patch testing.
🔗 Read more: doi.org/10.1111/cod.70119 ... See MoreSee Less
📣ESCD 2026 Update on Abstracts
Abstract submission is now closed – and what a great response! We have received 245 abstracts from 39 countries, truly reflecting the global reach of ESCD 2026 🌍
THANK YOU to everyone who has submitted an abstract for the ESCD 2026 Congress. It is set to be a very exciting and strong congress this June in Copenhagen. ... See MoreSee Less
🧴 New research just published!
A new original article led by Wolfgang Uter has found that most solid shampoos do not contain preservatives — unlike liquid shampoos commonly used in hairdressing.
Looking at products across four European countries, the research suggests that solid shampoos could help reduce preservative exposure and support the prevention of work-related allergic contact dermatitis in hairdressers.
📖 Solid Shampoo Is Mostly Not Preserved, in Contrast to Liquid Shampoos Used in Hairdressing (Contact Dermatitis, 2026)
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cod.70085 ... See MoreSee Less