Contact Urticaria from Xylene

Xylene is widely used in medical technology, but there are many concerns about its safety. A 52-year-old woman, employed as a histotechnician, presented with burning, swollen hands. Patch testing and a visit to her place of work confirmed exposure and sensitivity, in the form of contact urticaria, to xylene. The use of xylene-resistant gloves resulted in clearing of the dermatitis. Establishing the diagnosis of contact urticaria from xylene allowed the patient to be cured of her dermatitis and continue working.