Allergic contact dermatitis caused by 1,6‐hexanediol diacrylate in a hospital wristband

BACKGROUND: 1,6‐Hexanediol diacrylate (1,6‐HDDA) is a multifunctional acrylate and a potent sensitizer. OBJECTIVES: To report a case of allergic contact dermatitis caused by 1,6‐HDDA in a hospital wristband. METHODS: A male patient presented with eczema on his wrist where he had worn a hospital wristband. Patch testing was performed with our extended European baseline series, additional series, and pieces of the hospital wristband. Thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) was performed with extracts from the wristband and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry was used for chemical analysis. RESULTS: Positive reactions were found to pieces of the wristband, including adhesive rim (+++), inside (+++), and outside (++); to multiple allergens in the (meth)acrylates series; and to extracts of the wristband in acetone and ethanol. Chemical analysis of the ethanol extract showed presence of lauryl acrylate and 1,6‐HDDA. Patch testing with TLC strips and subsequent chemical analysis showed that the substance causing the strongest reaction was 1,6‐HDDA, to which the patient had a confirmed positive patch test reaction. CONCLUSION: 1,6‐HDDA was identified as the culprit allergen responsible for allergic contact dermatitis caused by the hospital wristband.