Potential Allergens in Medical Adhesives in Tapes, Wound Dressings, and Ostomy Care: A Scoping Review.

Background: Medical adhesives are increasingly reported, although still underestimated as causes of allergic contact dermatitis, for which identification of the sensitising culprits is often impossible, mainly because of non-declaration of components on medical device packaging and lack of cooperation from manufacturers.

Objectives: To report on the allergens identified in medical adhesives in tapes, wound dressings, and ostomy care.

Methods: The relevant literature (1980-2024) on sensitization sources and allergens was analysed and the results reported.

Conclusion: The main reported contact allergens present as tackifiers in the production of medical adhesive tapes and wound dressings are colophonium and derivatives, (meth)acrylates and isocyanates. 2-HEMA is a screening agent for contact allergy to acrylics, though other derivatives are important as well. Unexpectedly, d-limonene and other fragrance components were identified in so-called 'hypoallergenic', 'non-latex', or 'non-colophonium' containing materials, even in some types of colophonium itself. In ostomy adhesive pastes, besides colophonium and (meth)acrylates, various PMV/MA copolymer esters with different alkyl chain lengths (Gantrez-ES derivatives) are frequent sensitizers.