A case highlighted the development of allergic contact dermatitis to silicone in a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask established by positive patch testing directly to the silicone mask itself.Allergic contact dermatitis to silicone is extremely rare. Despite silicone being biologically inert, there are increasing reports of contact allergy to silicone from medical devices, including ventriculoperitoneal shunts, breast prostheses, and cosmetic fillers. These reports are suggestive of the role of silicone in inducing a delayed contact allergy.

However, silicone manufacturers argue against “silicone allergy” and suggest an alternative that other components in manufacturing such as ethylene oxide for product sterilization or residual by-products from the decomposition of silicone vulcanization agents can be the culprit. It has also been suggested that the culprit allergen in this particular case could be an unidentified chemical or even 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or drometrizole mixed with silicone during mask manufacturing.

Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33306196/