[Allergic contact dermatitis to cobalt and nickel in a metal industry worker. Case report and literature review].

BACKGROUND

Contact dermatitis is an eczematous skin reaction that is caused by repeated and direct exposure to an allergen: The prevalence of contact dermatitis to nickel is estimated at 17% in women and 3% in men, and 1-3% of the general population has allergic contact dermatitis to cobalt and chromium. Nickel, which is the leading cause of occupational dermatitis, shows reactivity to other metals; mainly chromium and cobalt.

CLINICAL CASE: A 47-year old man, with previous sensitization to nickel in childhood, is a worker in the metal industry, with occupational exposure to nickel and cobalt, and showed dermatosis predominantly in the upper limbs.

CONCLUSION

The risk of new sensitizations to metals (such as cobalt) has been increased by his previous sensitization to nickel that happened in childhood and his work in the metal industry.