Tin contact allergy: A summary of 12 years of patch testing

Radoslaw Spiewak1,2

1. Institute of Dermatology, Krakow, Poland
2. Dermatology and Allergy Consultancy 'dermatolog.eu', Krakow, Poland

Source: Spiewak R. Tin contact allergy: A summary of 12 years of patch testing. Contact Dermatitis 2026; 94 (Supplement S1: Congress of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis [ESCD], 24-27 June 2026, Copenhagen, Denmark): 52-53.

Purpose: Among many industrial and everyday applications, tin compounds are widely used as cosmetic ingredients and textile dye fixatives. The rate of positive results to stannous chloride in consecutive patients appears surprisingly high.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the retrospective patch test results with tin, tin chloride and tin oxalate to better understand the clinical relevance of positive reactions.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients tested with stannous chloride 1% pet., metallic tin 50% pet., and stannous oxalate 1% pet. in IQ Ultra chambers (Chemotechnique Diagnostics, Sweden). The tests were carried out in line with ESCD recommendations with readings after 2, 4 and 7 days. Contact allergy to tin was diagnosed in case of at least one clear positive reaction to any tin compound on any reading day. Clinical relevance was assessed with the use of CODEX scale.

Results: Between 2013 and 2024, patch tests with stannous chloride were performed in 304 patients (217 women and 87 men, aged 2–77 years). Questionable reactions were noted in 45 (14.8%) patients and positive reactions in 121 (39.8%). The morphology and dynamics of the reaction indicated a true allergic reaction in most patients, but the frequency of questionable reactions, as well as positive reactions of unknown significance, required special caution. Of the 119 patients tested with metallic tin (50% pet.), positive reaction was noted in only 1 (0.8%, current relevance). Among 101 patients tested with stannous oxalate, 2 questionable and 2 positive reactions (2.0% each), 1 of current, and 1 of unknown relevance were noted.

Conclusions: Positive patch test reactions to stannous chloride are common, which may reflect the widespread exposure to tin in everyday life. However, their interpretation requires caution and a good understanding of possible sources of exposure.

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Document created: 29 June 2026, last updated: 7 August 2026.