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Indian Dermatology Online Journal: Occupational Contact Dermatitis Caused by Dimethylformamide

Muhammad Sobri Maulana

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Muhammad Sobri Maulana
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28 views5 pages

Indian Dermatology Online Journal: Occupational Contact Dermatitis Caused by Dimethylformamide

Muhammad Sobri Maulana

Uploaded by

Muhammad Sobri Maulana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Indian Dermatology Online

Journal
Indian Dermatol Online J. 7(5): 433-434

Occupational contact dermatitis caused by


dimethylformamide
Aayush Gupta, Yugal K Sharma, Kirti Deo

Department of Dermatology, Dr. DY Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Address for correspondence: Dr. Aayush Gupta, B-402, The Metropolitan, Near Darshan Hall, Chinchwad, Pune - 411
033, Maharashtra, India. E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright: © Indian Dermatology Online Journal


DOI: 10.4103/2229-5178.190501
Published in print: Sep-Oct2016

Sir,

N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) is a widely used organic solvent due to its chemical and thermal
stability at wide temperature range including 153°C (its boiling point)- and high polarity.[1] Here,
we report a case of irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) caused by this solvent in an industrial worker.

A 29-year-old man employed, since a fortnight, in a factory manufacturing plastics, presented to


us with vesicular, intensely itchy, oozy, irritative eruption on the palmar aspect [Figure 1a] and
sides [Figure 1b] of left thumb, index- and middle finger, and right index finger since seven days.
Dermatological examination revealed multiple vesiculobullous lesions studded on a background
of loose, soddened and, at places, fissured skin on the above-mentioned digits.

View larger version


Figure 1. (a) Front and (b) lateral view showing multiple vesiculobullous lesions
on a background of loose, soddened, and fissured skin

Suspecting the case to be of industrial ICD, we obtained samples of the chemical substances
(xylene, toluene, acetone, ethanol, methyl methacrylate, and dimethylformamide) that the patient
may have been exposed to during his job and subjected this typical case of ICD to patch testing
with the same on the next day for detecting the specific irritants, ours being a teaching hospital
[Table 1]. Removal of test patches for DMF, after 4 h due to intense local itching, revealed
erythema, edema, and vesiculation, confirming our suspicion of industrial ICD to DMF. Readings
taken after 48 and 72 h did not reveal any reaction.

See full table


Table 1. Patch test results

DMF, a versatile and powerful chemical, is used as an organic solvent in the plastic industry and a
wide variety of synthetic procedures, such as preparation of colloids, synthesis of block-
copolymers, manufacture of lacquers, varnishes, paints, and rubber.[1] Exposure to DMF after
recent ingestion of alcohol is accompanied by an antabuse-like effect, producing facial eruptions,
redness of the conjunctiva, nausea, and vomiting.[2] DMF is able to penetrate intact skin, and
cause liver and gastrointestinal abnormalities, and, in certain cases, contact urticaria.[3] Although
its irritant and sensitizing capacities—causing especially, “sofa dermatitis”[4]—are well known,
we could find only one previous case[2] describing occupational contact dermatitis to DMF.

Financial support and sponsorship


Nil.

Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.

Articles from Indian Dermatology Online Journal are provided here courtesy of Wolters Kluwer --
Medknow Publications

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REFERENCES
1. Pastoriza-Santos I, Liz- Marzán LM, authors. N, N-dimethylformamide as a reaction medium for metal nanoparticle
synthesis. Advanced Functional Materials. 2009;19:679–88
2. Carmasa JG, author. Contact dermatitis from dimethylformamide. Contact Dermatitis. 1987;16:234
3. Fioroto A, Larese F, Molinari S, Zanin T, authors. Liver function alterations in synthetic leather workers exposed to
dimethylformamide. Am J Ind Med. 1997;32:255–60. [PubMed]
4. Williams JD, Coulson LH, Susitaibal P, Winhoben SM, authors. An outbreak of furniture dermatitis in the U.K. Br J
Dermatol. 2008;159:233–4. [PubMed]
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Figure 1.
(a) Front and (b) lateral view showing multiple vesiculobullous lesions on a background of loose, soddened, and
fissured skin

[Back]
[Back]

Table 1.
Patch test results

[Back]

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