Contact allergy and photocontact allergy to UV filter octocrylene

We describe four patients with contact allergy to octocrylene in sunscreen preparations and one patient with photocontact allergy to this UV-filter. Octocrylene is a relatively new UVB and UVAII absorber, which is widely used in sunscreen agents and skin care cosmetics. Since 2003, several studies have reported an increasing number of contact allergic and photocontact allergic reactions to this chemical. Plain contact allergy occurs mostly in children from the use of octocrylene containing sunscreen products. Photocontact allergy cases are reported mostly from France, Belgium, Spain and Italy. This reaction is mainly seen in adult patients, who have previously become photosensitized to ketoprofen in topical products containing the NSAID. We suggest to add octocrylene 10[%] in petrolatum to the cosmetic screening series and the photopatch test series and to test one or both of these series in all patients suspected of reactions to sunscreens or other cosmetics, and in patients in whom the existence of photoallergic contact dermatitis or photosensitive disorder is considered.