OCCUPATIONAL ALLERGIC CONTACT-DERMATITIS DUE TO COCONUT DIETHANOLAMIDE (COCAMIDE DEA)

Coconut diethanolamide (CDEA), manufactured from coconut oil, is widel y used as a surface-active agent in hand gels, hand-washing liquids, s hampoos and dish-washing liquids. CDEA has rarely caused allergic cont act dermatitis. During 1985-1992, we investigated 6 patients with occu pational allergic contact dermatitis caused by CDEA. 2 became sensitiz ed from a barrier cream, 3 from a hand-washing liquid, and 1 had been exposed both to a hand-washing liquid and to a metalworking fluid cont aining CDEA. Leave-on products (hand-protection foams) caused sensitiz ation much more rapidly (2-3 months) than rinse-off products (hand-was hing liquids; 5-7 years). Due to the extensive use of CDEA and the lac k of proper declaration of products, it is difficult to avoid CDEA exp osure. No contact allergy to another coconut-oil-derived sensitizer (c ocamidopropyl betaine) was found in the patients.