Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy: Reviewing the Evidence for Immune and Non-immune Cutaneous Reactions
Although wool is commonly believed to cause irritant (non-immune) and hypersensitivity (immune) cutaneous reactions, the evidence basis for this belief and its validity for modern garments have not been critically examined. Publications from the last 100 years, using MEDLINE and Google Scholar, were...
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Society for Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica
2017-05-01
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doaj-a40ee05d3a0b43ddaace9d70fdaa4b632020-11-25T00:34:44ZengSociety for Publication of Acta Dermato-VenereologicaActa Dermato-Venereologica0001-55551651-20572017-05-0197890691510.2340/00015555-26554935Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy: Reviewing the Evidence for Immune and Non-immune Cutaneous ReactionsMichaela Zallmann0Pete K. SmithMimi L.K. TangLynda J. SpelmanJennifer L. CahillGabriele WortmannConstance H. KatelarisKatrina J. AllenJohn C. Su Department of Dermatology, Monash University, Eastern Health, Box Hill Victoria; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Victoria, 3168 Melbourne, Australia. m.zallmann@gmail.com. Although wool is commonly believed to cause irritant (non-immune) and hypersensitivity (immune) cutaneous reactions, the evidence basis for this belief and its validity for modern garments have not been critically examined. Publications from the last 100 years, using MEDLINE and Google Scholar, were analysed for evidence that wool causes cutaneous reactions, both immune-mediated (atopic dermatitis exacerbation, contact urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis) and non-immune-mediated (irritant contact dermatitis, itch). Secondary aims of this paper were to examine evidence that lanolin and textile-processing additives (formaldehyde, chromium) cause cutaneous reactions in the context of modern wool-processing techniques. Current evidence does not suggest that wool-fibre is a cutaneous allergen. Furthermore, contact allergy from lanolin, chromium and formaldehyde is highly unlikely with modern wool garments. Cutaneous irritation from wool relates to high fibre diameters (≥ 30–32 µm). Superfine and ultrafine Merino wool do not activate sufficient c-fibres to cause itch, are well tolerated and may benefit eczema management. https://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/html/10.2340/00015555-2655 woolallergyatopicdermatitiscontactdermatitisirritantdermatitis |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Michaela Zallmann Pete K. Smith Mimi L.K. Tang Lynda J. Spelman Jennifer L. Cahill Gabriele Wortmann Constance H. Katelaris Katrina J. Allen John C. Su |
spellingShingle |
Michaela Zallmann Pete K. Smith Mimi L.K. Tang Lynda J. Spelman Jennifer L. Cahill Gabriele Wortmann Constance H. Katelaris Katrina J. Allen John C. Su Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy: Reviewing the Evidence for Immune and Non-immune Cutaneous Reactions Acta Dermato-Venereologica wool allergy atopicdermatitis contactdermatitis irritantdermatitis |
author_facet |
Michaela Zallmann Pete K. Smith Mimi L.K. Tang Lynda J. Spelman Jennifer L. Cahill Gabriele Wortmann Constance H. Katelaris Katrina J. Allen John C. Su |
author_sort |
Michaela Zallmann |
title |
Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy: Reviewing the Evidence for Immune and Non-immune Cutaneous Reactions |
title_short |
Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy: Reviewing the Evidence for Immune and Non-immune Cutaneous Reactions |
title_full |
Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy: Reviewing the Evidence for Immune and Non-immune Cutaneous Reactions |
title_fullStr |
Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy: Reviewing the Evidence for Immune and Non-immune Cutaneous Reactions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Debunking the Myth of Wool Allergy: Reviewing the Evidence for Immune and Non-immune Cutaneous Reactions |
title_sort |
debunking the myth of wool allergy: reviewing the evidence for immune and non-immune cutaneous reactions |
publisher |
Society for Publication of Acta Dermato-Venereologica |
series |
Acta Dermato-Venereologica |
issn |
0001-5555 1651-2057 |
publishDate |
2017-05-01 |
description |
Although wool is commonly believed to cause irritant (non-immune) and hypersensitivity (immune) cutaneous reactions, the evidence basis for this belief and its validity for modern garments have not been critically examined. Publications from the last 100 years, using MEDLINE and Google Scholar, were analysed for evidence that wool causes cutaneous reactions, both immune-mediated (atopic dermatitis exacerbation, contact urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis) and non-immune-mediated (irritant contact dermatitis, itch). Secondary aims of this paper were to examine evidence that lanolin and textile-processing additives (formaldehyde, chromium) cause cutaneous reactions in the context of modern wool-processing techniques. Current evidence does not suggest that wool-fibre is a cutaneous allergen. Furthermore, contact allergy from lanolin, chromium and formaldehyde is highly unlikely with modern wool garments. Cutaneous irritation from wool relates to high fibre diameters (≥ 30–32 µm). Superfine and ultrafine Merino wool do not activate sufficient c-fibres to cause itch, are well tolerated and may benefit eczema management. |
topic |
wool allergy atopicdermatitis contactdermatitis irritantdermatitis |
url |
https://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/html/10.2340/00015555-2655
|
work_keys_str_mv |
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