Contact Dermatitis From Clothing

I am inclined to think that in chil­dren the clothing is the most common cause of contact dermatitis. It may be difficult or impossible, however, to determine what constituent of, or addi­tive to, the cloth is causing the trouble. Wool is a common cause of eczema-it can work either by inhalation or by contact. Such eczema is best classed under atopic dermatitis. (See atopic dermatitis.) Many dyes can cause con­tact eczema, and I have been pretty sure many times that the dye in clothes was causing the trouble, but have obtained few positive patch tests to the dyed fabric. Cotton cloth, when nothing has been added to it, is not allergenic.

However, practically all cotton garments have had “finishes” applied to them as mordants, for softening or for stiffening, or for making the material look or feel better. There are a large number of these “finishes,” of different chemical composition. The most common are starches, gums, resins, detergents, and bleaching agents. If eczema appears on the trunk after wearing a new undershirt, or on the upper legs or buttocks after wearing new shorts, it is likely that the cause may be one of these cotton “finishes.”