Contact dermatitis due to synthetic resins in shoe linings.

Abstract

DERMATITIS due to materials used in the manufacture of shoes has been reported from time to time. Burgess 1 reported four cases due to leather, canvas or fabrikoid® linings. Shaw 2 reported 22 cases due to such things as tanning chemicals, antimildew compounds, polishes and dyes. Gaul and Underwood 3 recently reported cases due to a wide variety of materials employed in the manufacture of shoes, and Robins 4 recorded cases of dermatitis due to substances used in shoes. No one has, however, stressed the importance of resinous linings as a cause of contact dermatitis. Perhaps the reason is that until recently artificial leathers were simple cellulose nitrate-coated materials. Since World War II a diverse number of resins have been employed as partial linings, particularly in women's shoes. The purpose of this paper is to indicate the importance of synthetic resins used as partial linings in