Dermatological Drugs and Cosmetics: Allergenic and Adverse Effects

The 1987 document details the potential allergenic and adverse effects of various dermatological drugs and cosmetics. Kathon CG, a preservative in cosmetics, was identified as a strong irritant with a potential for causing contact allergic reactions, with a study showing a 4.4% reaction rate among routinely patch-tested patients. The document recommends further studies and routine testing for Kathon CG sensitization. It also reports on the side effects of dermatological treatments such as etretinate and isotretinoin, with etretinate causing skin issues in patients with liver disease and isotretinoin linked to various side effects including acne fulminans and osteoma cutis. Topical minoxidil, used for alopecia, caused hypertrichosis in about 70% of patients and had systemic effects such as reduced blood pressure in a study of 30 patients. Other adverse reactions reported include pseudomembranous colitis from topical clindamycin, toxic psychosis from transdermal scopolamine, and avascular necrosis from topical corticosteroids. The document also notes that cosmetic-related reactions accounted for 0.3% of the total patient population and 5.4% of all contact dermatitis cases in a study by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group over 64 months.