Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Dimethyl Fumarate after Contact with a Chinese Sofa

Background: Dimethyl fumarate has been successfully used in the treatment of psoriasis in the past. Despite its clinical use, cutaneous contact with this molecule may cause contact dermatitis. Objective: We report a case in which skin exposure to a synthetic fabric sofa containing dimethyl fumarate made by a Chinese furniture manufacturer resulted in a severe, pruritic, papulovesicular, eczematous dermatitis to the sites of contact with the sofa. Methods: The patient was patch-tested with serial dilutions of dimethyl fumarate. Results: Patch testing results revealed strong positive reactions to dimethyl fumarate at different concentrations. Conclusion: Dimethyl fumarate is a potent contact sensitizer and is commonly found in sachets inside furniture and footwear boxes.