P18 Allergic contact dermatitis to cosmetics: a retrospective six year review

Abstract

A retrospective study was done of allergic contact dermatits to cosmetics, seen at the department of dermatology of Curry Cabral Hospital, over a six year period (1998 to 2003). Of 2848 patients patch tested during this period, 314 had cosmetic contact allergy and represented about 15.7% of all patients with at least one positive patch test. The patients aged between 13 and 82 years old, and were mostly female (78%). Skin reactions occurred most often on the face, followed by hands, neck and the eyelids. All the patients were tested with the standard series, with supplementary series when appropriate, and whenever possible, with the personal cosmetic products. 92% had positive reactions to standard series allergens; 226 patiens to allergens of the standard series, which may be used in cosmetics. The majority of reactions were due to fragrance mix, followed by balsam of Peru, p‐phenylenediamine, kathon CG and colophony. Fragrance series was tested in 118 patients, with the following most frequent positive reactions: oak moss absolute, isoeugenol, hydroxycitronellal. Cosmetic series was tested in 147 patients with the following most frequent positive reactions: toluenesulphonamide‐formaldehyde resin and propolis. 30 patients tested with photoallergen series, 4 reacted to oxybenzone. Skin care products and fragrances were the most commonly involved product categories. Twelve patients reacted only with their own products. The fragrances were the most frequent ingredient recorded as the cause of cosmetic contact allergy. Our standard series detected 70% of cases of allergic contact dermatitis to cosmetics.