Epoxy Resin Allergy: prevalence and clinical spectrum in a regional population in the Southwest of England

Epoxy resins, commonly in adhesives, cause occupational allergic contact dermatitis, particularly among male tradesmen. Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) is the screening agent for epoxy allergy in the British and European Baseline Series. Recent reports highlight new non-occupational sources of sensitisation in women engaged in craft hobbies. We investigated whether similar trends are emerging in our region. We retrospectively analysed our clinic’s patch test data for a 13-year period (2009-2022). Of 2445 patients tested, 15 (0.6%) were sensitised to DGEBA; males 9 (1.2%), females 6 (0.4%). 8 of 10 (80%) sensitized individuals with known relevance were exposed occupationally, 3 of whom had airborne exposure. To be included in the baseline series, an allergen must patch test positive in ≥ 0.5% of consecutively tested patients. Our findings confirm that DGEBA remains a relevant allergen, supporting its continued inclusion. No cases of non-occupational sensitisation from new sources were identified.