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 publication alert
🧴 Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Adapalene: A Rare Adverse Effect
• A 15-year-old girl developed an acute erythematous vesicular facial eruption within 24 hours of restarting Epiduo® (adapalene 0.1%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5%).
• The eruption involved the forehead and periorbital areas.
• Patch testing showed a positive reaction to Epiduo®.
• Further testing was positive only to Differin® (adapalene 0.1%), while benzoyl peroxide and tested excipients were negative.
• These findings confirmed allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) caused by adapalene.
• ACD to topical retinoids is rare, with fewer than 20 reported cases, most involving tretinoin.
• This represents the second documented case of adapalene-induced ACD.
💡 Take-home point
• Not every reaction to topical retinoids is irritant dermatitis.
• Consider ACD when the reaction is more severe or atypical than expected, and patch testing can help identify the culprit allergen.
📖 Read the full publication: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cod.70188 ... See MoreSee Less
🧤 Allergic contact dermatitis to 1,3-diphenylguanidine (DPG): an emerging issue with polyisoprene gloves
1,3-Diphenylguanidine (DPG) is a known contact sensitiser and rubber vulcaniser. This audit reviewed 23 years of patch-testing data and highlights an important occupational exposure to 1,3-diphenylguanidine (DPG).
🔎 Key findings:
• 2,675 patients were patch tested between 2002–2024
• 50 patients (1.9%) had a positive patch test to DPG
• 31 (1.2% of total) cases were considered clinically relevant
• Gloves and footwear were the most common exposure sources
• 🧤 Nine cases of DPG ACD were healthcare workers exposed to sterile polyisoprene gloves including a cluster of four new cases in 2023–2024
The findings highlight the importance of considering DPG allergy in occupational hand dermatitis, including in healthcare workers using polyisoprene gloves.
📖 Read the full publication: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cod.70178 ... See MoreSee Less
Save the Date: SAM 2027 in Paris 📢
The EAACI Skin Allergy Meeting (SAM) 2027 will take place in Paris from 11-13 March 2027.
The meeting will focus on the rapidly evolving field of skin allergy, including advances in biological and targeted therapies, new insights into disease mechanisms and the growing interface between allergy, dermatology and clinical immunology.
International experts and emerging voices will discuss key developments in urticaria, angioedema, atopic and contact dermatitis, mast cell diseases and drug hypersensitivity, with a focus on new concepts, current controversies and their relevance to clinical practice.
📍Paris
📅 11-13 March 2027 ... See MoreSee Less
📢 Publication Alert
☀️ Allergen Content of Inactive Ingredients in Best-Selling Sunscreens: A Comparison of Key Product Features
🧴 A recent study of 176 best-selling sunscreens from three largest American online retailers found that allergen content varied considerably between products.
🔎 Key findings:
• The average sunscreen contained 2.51 North American 80 Comprehensive Series (NAC-80) allergens in its inactive ingredients.
• 5.6% of products did not contain NAC-80 allergens.
• The most common allergen categories were Vitamin E, acrylate polymers, fragrance and parabens
• Organic sunscreens contained more allergens on average than inorganic formulations (3.12 vs. 1.45).
📖 Read the full publication to explore the results: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cod.70141 ... See MoreSee Less
🔬 New publication
📚 Patch Testing in Individuals With Diabetes Using Medical Devices: Part 2- Contact Allergy to Medical Device Allergens and New Patch Test Recommendations
This study of 204 adult type I diabetic participants using continuous glucose monitors or insulin pumps found 16.2% had contact allergy to allergens found in these devices. The prevalence was much higher in those reporting skin reactions than in those without symptoms (28.1% vs 1.1%).
2-hydroxyethyl acrylate was identified as a previously unrecognized relevant allergen and propose an updated patch test series to improve diagnosis.
💡 Key message: As diabetes technologies become increasingly common, recognizing and testing for medical device-related contact allergy is essential. Regular updates of patch test series and continued chemical analyses of devices are needed to improve patient care.
📖 Read the publication: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cod.70149 ... See MoreSee Less
📢 New Publication
🧴 Contact Allergy and Allergic Contact Dermatitis From Propylene Glycol and Related Glycols: Cosmetic Skin Sensitisers After All?
Propylene glycol and related glycols are widely used in cosmetics, topical medications, and personal care products. 🔬 This publication examines the evidence for their role as potential skin sensitisers and the development of contact allergy and allergic contact dermatitis, highlighting key considerations for clinical practice and future research.
Follow the link to read this publication: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cod.70211 ... See MoreSee Less
The updated European Society of Contact Dermatitis Guideline for Diagnostic Patch Testing—Recommendations on Best Practice (Update 2026) is now available.
This revised guideline reflects the latest evidence and expert consensus to support best practice in diagnostic patch testing, helping clinicians optimize the diagnosis and management of patients with allergic contact dermatitis.
Read the full guideline: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cod.70195 ... See MoreSee Less
Better treatments start with better immunological understanding.
The workshop at the ESCD2026 Congress explores how advances in immunology can be translated into improved strategies for treating contact dermatitis.
Among others, we will discuss:
🔹 Is early inflammation the key therapeutic target?
🔹 Are local and circulating memory responses targeted by the same treatments?
🔹 Why do some individuals develop tolerance while others develop inflammation?
Our ESCD2026 Congress President Charlotte Menné Bonefeld is looking forward to moderating this discussion and debate featuring Rachael Clark, Kenji Kabashima, Thomas Rustemeyer, and Lone Skov. ... See MoreSee Less
Acrylates are everywhere - from medical devices to cosmetics, exposure is increasing- but are we keeping up with the risks?
At ESCD 2026, the plenary “Acrylates – what’s new?” brings together the latest insights in this rapidly evolving area.
Chaired by Jenifer Chen and Jeanne Duus Johansen, with Olivier Aerts and Thomas Rustemeyer, this session will explore:
🔹 Emerging sources of acrylate exposure
🔹 Challenges in detection and diagnosis
🔹 What’s changing in prevention and patient management ... See MoreSee Less