Division of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.
This is the first report of sensitization to a cycloaliphatic epoxy. Allergic contact dermatitis occurred in an electron microscopist after exposure to the cycloaliphatic epoxy, vinyl cyclohexene diepoxide. Cycloaliphatic epoxies are not based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), presently the epoxy of greatest commercial usage. However, non-DGEBA epoxies are finding new applications in the semiconductor and aerospace industries and will likely gain in importance as a cause of occupational allergic dermatitis. Latex or polyvinyl chloride gloves did not protect the reported patient from percutaneous absorption and elicitation of allergic dermatitis.