Chemical Aspects of Allergic Contact Dermatitis: A 21 st Century Perspective

Giménez-Arnau, E, Vileno, B and Roberts, DW ORCID: 0000-0001-6112-5868 (2025) Chemical Aspects of Allergic Contact Dermatitis: A 21 st Century Perspective. Current Treatment Options in Allergy, 12 (1). ISSN 2196-3053

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Abstract

Purpose of Review: Although the biological mechanism of skin sensitization is a quite complex multi-stage process, the sensitization potency (or absence of potency) of a chemical is dependent on its chemical properties. Here we present an overview of the advances that have been made in our understanding of the chemical properties that determine sensitization potency, and how this understanding can be applied to rationalize existing data and to make predictions for new chemicals. Recent Findings: It has been known for many decades that for a chemical to be a sensitizer it must be able to form a covalent reaction product with skin protein. There are several reaction mechanisms by which these covalent products can be formed. Five major mechanisms in which the sensitizing chemical is electrophilic are recognized. For each of these mechanisms we summarise how these are related to chemical structure and what is now understood about the relationship between chemical properties and sensitization potency. A further mechanistic domain recently recognized, covering chemicals reacting as nucleophiles, is also discussed. Recent developments have made it possible to investigate free radical chemistry in cutaneo, and we discuss how these can be applied to investigate free radical sensitization mechanisms. Summary: An update on the chemistry related to skin sensitization is presented.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review (when applicable) and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: http://doi.org/10.1007/s40521-025-00394-z
Uncontrolled Keywords:	3404 Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry; 34 Chemical Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RL Dermatology R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica
Divisions:	Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Publisher:	Springer
Date of acceptance:	30 May 2025
Date Deposited:	06 Feb 2026 10:46
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2026 10:46
DOI or ID number:	10.1007/s40521-025-00394-z
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/28069

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