D3.239 - Foot Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Workers: Prevalence and Allergen Patterns

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) can affect the feet, but this site is less studied than the hands. Identifying its prevalence, clinical features, and allergens is essential for accurate diagnosis and prevention. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of foot contact dermatitis and describe its specific characteristics.

This was a retrospective descriptive study including all cases of foot ACD recorded at the dermato-allergology unit of the Occupational Medicine Department, in a University Hospital, from 1989 to 2020.

A total of 465 cases of foot contact dermatitis were identified, of which 282 cases (60.6%) were classified as allergic. The mean age was 43.3 ± 12.7 years (range 13–80), with a slight male predominance (54.6%). Lesions were mainly erythematovesicular (60.3%) and erythematosquamous (36.5%), primarily affecting the dorsum, soles, and toes in 60.3%, 42.2%, and 17.4% of cases, respectively. Pruritus was reported in 180 patients (63.3%).

The most frequent allergens identified by patch testing with the European Baseline Series (EBS) were chromium (130 cases, 46.1%), nickel (71 cases, 25.2%), cobalt (57 cases, 20.2%), formaldehyde (34 cases, 12.1%), and both mercaptobenzothiazole and para-phenylenediamine (PPD) in 14 cases each (5%). The construction and public works sector was the most represented (19.8%) sector. Only 19.6% of cases were officially recognized as occupational diseases.

These findings highlight the importance of foot allergic contact dermatitis and the need for thorough patch testing to identify allergens and implement preventive measures.