Aminoethylethanolamine: a new allergen in cosmetics?

Amphoacetates are organic compounds used in many industrial applications an d in cosmetic formulations for the skin, hair and mucosa, as surfactants, m ild foaming and cleansing agents in concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 50% . Despite the fact that they have been in use for many years, cases of cont act allergy to them are extremely rare. We describe 4 patients who develope d an eczematous reaction after use of detergents containing amphoacetates. Patch testing showed positive reactions to sodium lauroamphoacetate (Mirano l (R) HM Special, Rhodia, England) as is or diluted at decreasing concentra tion (10%, 5% and 1%) in water and to aminoethylethanolamine (AEE) at the c oncentration of 1% in various vehicles (ethanol, acetone, and sodium lauroa mphoacetate 1% aqueous solution) and at decreasing concentrations ranging f rom 1% to 0.005% in water. AEE is one of the reagents used in the synthesis of amphoacetates. This molecule, that is structurally an ethylenediamine d erivative, has sensitizing power and is reported as a cause of occupational contact allergy in cable jointers. Combined eczematous reactions to AEE an d sodium lauroamphoacetate can be consequent to the presence of the former substance as an impurity in amphoacetates-containing products, as demonstra ted by ion chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis.