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ACAAI meeting kicks off with skin-related allergies, patch-testing sessions

ATLANTA — Thursday’s all-day special session at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting focused on skin-related allergies and the use of patch testing for allergic contact dermatitis.

“Allergists are seeing a lot of skin allergies, and therefore would like an update on the diagnosis and management of eczema, urticaria, mucosal lesions and contact dermatitis,” Luz S. Fonacier, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI, professor of clinical medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook, and head of allergy and allergy and immunology training program director, Winthrop University Hospital, Mineola, N.Y., told Healio Allergy/Immunology.

Fonacier was moderator for the day’s first session, “D-Day for Skin Deep Allergies.” Topics included differential diagnosis of eczema and pruritus, diagnosis and treatment of difficult-to-control atopic dermatitis, and urticaria guidelines in Europe and the United States.

Luz S. Fonacier

She also presented an update on the parameters of contact dermatitis during the afternoon session, and said allergists “should do patch testing if you suspect allergic dermatitis.”

“Allergy to a topical corticosteroid may not be evident right away because its job is to bring down inflammation,” Fonacier said in an ACAAI press release. “But [patients] should suspect an allergy to [their] medication if the rash doesn’t respond, get worse with the medication or improves initially, then flares.”

Antibiotics, including bacitracin and neomycin, found in adhesive bandages and “cut” preparations, as well as topical anesthetics found in lip balm and antifungals are other topical medications that can cause flares, according to the press release.

For more information:

Fonacier L. D-Day for Skin Deep Allergies.

Fonacier L. Patch Testing. Both presented at: American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting; Nov. 6-10, 2014; Atlanta.

Disclosure: Fonacier reports financial ties with Baxter, Dyax, Genentech and Merck.