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Contact Allergy to Shoes

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Contact Dermatitis

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Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis from shoes is common both in adults and children. Although any part of the foot may be involved in shoe dermatitis, the typical localization is on the dorsa of feet and toes, the interdigital areas between the toes being spared, and the soles. Bilateral symmetrical dermatitis is the norm although it may be patchy and unilateral. Chromium salts and cobalt, but also preservative agents in leather, colophonium and para-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde (PTBP-F) resin in glues, the rubber chemicals mercaptobenzothiazole and derivatives, and to a lesser extent thiurams, as well as dyes, such as para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and related compounds, are the most important causes of shoe dermatitis; however, other allergens may also be involved, for example, shoe contaminants from topical pharmaceutical or other products contacted. Allergic contact dermatitis due to footwear should always be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of persistent foot dermatitis. Patch testing for shoe allergy should ideally include the baseline series, a shoe series, pieces from shoes (and socks) worn by the patient, as well as any other potential allergen having been in contact with the feet. Shoe allergy may become chronic, disabling, and recalcitrant to therapy, but the outcome is generally good, particularly from the wide array of available allergen alternatives.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Contact Allergy Unit, University Hospital, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium

    An Goossens

  2. Department of Dermatology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    James S. Taylor

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  1. An Goossens
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  2. James S. Taylor
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Correspondence to An Goossens .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergy National Allergy Research Centre Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark

    Jeanne Duus Johansen

  2. Division of Allergology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany

    Vera Mahler

  3. Laboratoire de Dermatochimie, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

    Jean-Pierre Lepoittevin

  4. Professor emeritus Formerly Department of Dermatology, Klinikum Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

    Peter J. Frosch

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Goossens, A., Taylor, J.S. (2021). Contact Allergy to Shoes. In: Johansen, J.D., Mahler, V., Lepoittevin, JP., Frosch, P.J. (eds) Contact Dermatitis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36335-2_41

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36335-2_41

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