FS09.3 Can Flutivate® cream be safely used in formaldehyde‐allergic patients?

Abstract

Objectives: To study the healing time of an experimental eczema treated with Flutivate® cream, a potent corticosteroid containing a formaldehyde releasing preservative, in patients allergic to formaldehyde and controls not allergic to formaldehyde.Methods: 24 individuals allergic to nickel, 7 of whom were also allergic to formaldehyde, had a nickel‐allergic contact dermatitis experimentally induced on both upper arms. The dermatitis was treated twice daily for a maximum of 3 weeks or until healing with either Flutivate® cream or Betnovate® cream, a corticosteroid with the same potency but containing another preservative, which was tolerated by all 24 study persons. The study was double‐blind and randomized.Results: In 12/17 controls (71%) the nickel‐allergic contact dermatitis healed completely when treated with Flutivate® cream compared to 2/7 formaldehyde‐allergic patients (29%)(p < 0.05).Conclusion: Flutivate® cream should not be used by individuals allergic to formaldehyde.