A Case of Allergic Contact Dermatitis due to Rosin, Nickel and Rosewood in a Violinist

Abstract

　A 66-year-old woman with a previous history of atopic dermatitis came to our hospital for erythema that had developed on the left side of her neck 3 months earlier which had since spread to her face, forearm, and supraclavicular fossa. She had begun practicing the violin 18 months previously and used excessive amounts of rosin. The patch test results were positive for rosin, nickel and her own violin rosin but doubtful for the rosewood used in the chin rest. First, we changed the rosin to carbon. However, erythema remained on the left lower jaw. We also changed the rosewood to ebony and all metals（including nickel）to titanium, and her symptoms disappeared. Therefore, we made a diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis due to rosin, nickel and rosewood in consideration of the distribution of the eruptions on her neck. She has had no recurrence after follow-up for 18 months with continued violin practice. There have been few reports regarding allergic contact dermatitis in violinists in Japan, although there have been many such reports in other countries. It is necessary to determine the causes and clinical features of allergic contact dermatitis and substitute products as necessary to resolve the symptoms.

（日本皮膚免疫アレルギー学会雑誌, 3（2）：349-354, 2020）