Cobalt exposure symptoms skin#
Cobalt exposure symptoms Patch#

Sensitized individuals generally experience a predictable localized response following cutaneous exposure to nickel, including erythema, vesicle formation, scaling, and pruritus. This metal is manufactured into steel and a variety of alloys containing cobalt, palladium, iron, titanium, gold, and magnesium.

Nickel is a chemical element found ubiquitously in the environment and is used with a high frequency worldwide.

Cobalt exposure symptoms skin#

However, the timely recognition of the type of systemic skin inflammation known as SCD and its varying presentations is critical as it can result in more chronic and severe symptoms. Contact dermatitis that results from direct contact to an allergen is the most common and easiest form of metal allergy to identify. Over the years, occupational exposure to cobalt has been primarily observed in metal workers, bricklayers, and pottery workers. The thinness of the stratum corneum and intermittent exposure to sweat on the eyelids have been associated with increased nickel absorption through the skin from cosmetics, allowing lower nickel concentrations to elicit a reaction. Cases of contact dermatitis caused by cutaneous exposure to cosmetics products and jewelry that contain nickel have been reported in the literature. Metals that are electrophilic have the ability to ionize and react with proteins, thus forming complexes that can be recognized by dendritic cells, which allows for sensitization to occur. Metal allergies may result in allergic contact dermatitis. During the 20th century, industrialization and modern living resulted in increased cutaneous exposure to these metals and hence an increased incidence of metal allergies. Metals such as nickel, cobalt, chromium, and zinc are ubiquitous in our environment.

Cobalt exposure symptoms Patch#

A variety of types of skin eruptions have been reported, including flares of previous patch test sites, symmetrical intertriginous and flexural exanthema, exfoliative erythroderma, and widespread dermatitis. Systemic contact dermatitis (SCD) is an inflammatory skin disease that is known to occur with exposure to drugs, foods, and dental metals. Additionally, the determination of the production of several cytokines by primary peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures is a potentially promising in vitro method for the discrimination of metal allergies, including SCD, as compared with the LST.Ĭontact dermatitis is usually produced by external exposure of the skin to an allergen however, sometimes a systemically administered allergen may reach the skin through the circulatory system and thereby produce systemic contact dermatitis. In vitro tests, such as the lymphocyte stimulating test (LST), have some advantages over patch testing to diagnose allergic contact dermatitis. A diagnosis of sensitivity to metal is established by epicutaneous patch testing and oral metal challenge with metals such as nickel, cobalt, chromium, and zinc. Zinc-containing dental fillings can induce oral lichen planus, palmoplantar pustulosis, and maculopapular rash. Systemic reactions, such as hand dermatitis or generalized eczematous reactions, can occur due to dietary nickel or cobalt ingestion. Metal allergy may result in allergic contact dermatitis and also SCD. Contact dermatitis is produced by external skin exposure to an allergen, but sometimes a systemically administered allergen may reach the skin and remain concentrated there with the aid of the circulatory system, leading to the production of systemic contact dermatitis (SCD).