Immunological occupational contact urticaria and contact dermatitis from proteins: a review.

Protein contact with the skin can be associated with 2 major clinical conditions: contact urticaria and protein contact dermatitis. This article reviews the pathogenesis, clinical pictures and the literature on the proteins having caused immunological occupation-related skin problems, i.e. fruits, vegetables, spices, plants, and woods; animal proteins; grains and enzymes, all affecting a wide variety of jobs. This is illustrated with some cases observed in the contact-allergy unit in Leuven.