ECZEMA DUE TO HYPERSENSITIVENESS TO RUBBER

Abstract

Dermatitis produced by contact with chemical substances used in the manufacture of ordinary rubber goods has been recognized for many years. Yet it is not generally known that ready-made rubber goods such as rubber gloves or condoms may give rise to eczema. The only case reported in the literature is that of dermatitis due to a rubber bunion protector.¹ The patient was sensitive to rubber bunion protectors only, not to gloves, corsets or garters. The bunion protector consisted of 90 per cent pure virgin rubber and of 10 per cent reclaimed rubber, and sulphur was used as a vulcanizer. Patch tests with other rubber products or sulphur were not made. In a case of hypersensitiveness to caoutchouc adhesive plaster as reported by Siemens² the offending agent was ``Dammar-Säure,'' and not the rubber itself. The following case of eczema due to cold-cured rubber has been studied in this clinic