Allergic Contact Dermatitis: Sensitization to 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate

Acrylate polymers are an important cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Over the last decades, the vector of allergy to methacrylic acid esters has shifted from industrial products to the beauty and medical industries. In the described clinical case, the potential risk of sensitization to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, a component of medical products, is emphasized, particularly in patients working in the cosmetology field. The authors present a clinical case of allergic contact dermatitis caused by 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, a component of the adhesive in a medical plaster. Basic diagnostic measures, including allergodiagnostics using a patch test, were conducted. Based on the collected data, the diagnosis was verified, and therapy for allergic contact dermatitis was prescribed according to the international clinical treatment protocol. The increasing number of cases of allergic contact dermatitis caused by acrylate compounds in medical materials requires further investigation and the implementation of effective preventive measures to ensure patient safety.