Allergic contact dermatitis from sodium dihydroxycetyl phosphate, a new cosmetic allergen?

Sodium dihydroxycetyl phosphate (trade name Dragophos S 2/918501) was identified as a contact allergen in a herbal moisturizing cream causing severe acute contact dermatitis on the hands and face of a 41-year-old woman. Sodium dihydroxycetyl phosphate is a complex mixture of phosphate esters of dihydroxycetyl alcohol, and subsequent analysis and testing revealed hexadecane-1,2-diol as 1 of the allergenic ingredients. Another possible allergen in the compound appears to be hexadecane-1,2-diol, 2-isopropyl ether.