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Correspondence
June 1, 2008

Allergic Contact Dermatitis After Postsurgical Repair With 2-Octylcyanoacrylate

Arch Dermatol. 2008;144(6):814-815. doi:10.1001/archderm.144.6.814

The traditional techniques for closure of traumatic and surgical wounds (suture, staple, and adhesive tape) expanded in 1998 when the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of 2-octylcyanoacrylate topical skin adhesive (Dermabond; Ethicon Inc, Somerville, New Jersey). This was the first commercially available cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive in the United States. Cyanoacrylates are widely used as adhesives in metal, glass, rubber, and plastic work, for example ethylcyanoacrylate (Krazy Glue; Krazy Glue, Columbus, Ohio). They are also used in dentistry and as adhesives in nail cosmesis. Although rare, cases of allergic contact dermatitis secondary to cyanoacrylate use have been reported. These cases primarily involved hairdressers, manicurists, and dental staff.1-4 To our knowledge, we present herein the first reported case of allergic contact dermatitis in a patient with an operative repair using Dermabond.

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