Ann Dermatol.  2010 Feb;22(1):63-65. 10.5021/ad.2010.22.1.63.

A Case of Chromium Contact Dermatitis due to Exposure from a Golf Glove

• Lim JH
• Kim HS
• Park YM
• Lee JY
• Kim HO

• KMID: 2172041
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2010.22.1.63

Abstract

Chromium is a transition metal and has been shown to elicit contact dermatitis. Although leather products have been known to be the most significant source of chromium exposure these days, the majority of reports have been related to exposure from shoe products. We herein report a professional golfer who became allergic to golf gloves made of chromium-tanned leather. A 27-year-old woman golfer presented with recurrent, pruritic, erythematous plaques that had been occurring on both hands for several years. The lesions developed whenever she had worn golf gloves for an extended period of time, especially during tournament season. To identify the causative agent, patch tests were performed and the results demonstrated a strong positive reaction to potassium dichromate 0.5% and to her own glove. The amount of chromium in her golf glove was analyzed to be 308.91 ppm and based on this, a diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis due to a chromium-tanned leather glove was made. She was treated with oral antihistamines combined with topical steroids and advised to wear chromium-free leather gloves. There has been no evidence of recurrence during a six month follow-up period.

Keyword

Chromium; Contact dermatitis; Leather; Tanning

MeSH Terms

Adult
Chromium
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact
Dermatitis, Contact
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Golf
Hand
Histamine Antagonists
Humans
Patch Tests
Potassium Dichromate
Recurrence
Seasons
Shoes
Steroids
Tanning
Chromium
Histamine Antagonists
Potassium Dichromate
Steroids

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Several scaly erythematous plaques on the dorsal and palmar sides of the hands. (B) More severe skin lesions on the same area after five months.

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  Fig. 2 (A) A strong positive reaction to No.1 potassium dichromate 0.5% (++ with ICDRG scoring system) and a moderate positive reaction to No.7 nickel sulfate 5% (+) at 48 hours using the Korean standard patch test. (B) The 'As is' patch tests demonstrated positive reactions to the gray (++) and black (+) glove fragments.

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