Patch testing in suspected allergic contact dermatitis to cosmetics: a retrospective study from a tertiary care center in South India

Abstract

Background: Commonly used cosmetics such as soaps, face creams, lipsticks, sunscreens, perfumes, and eye, hair, and nail cosmetics can cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Gold standard for diagnosis of ACD is the patch test. Aim: We conducted this retrospective study to find the common allergens in cosmetics causing ACD. Methods: Patients who underwent patch test with both cosmetic and fragrance series as well as Indian standard series, for suspected cosmetic dermatitis were included in this study. Data were collected from patch test register maintained in the department of dermatology. Results: The study included a total of 74 patients out of which 45 (60.8%) were males and 29 (39.2%) were females. Patients with positive and negative patch test had no statistically significant difference with respect atopy (P = 0.521). Of 74 patients included in the study, 59 patients (79.7%) had positive patch test to at least one allergen. In our study, the most common allergen with positive patch test was fragrance mix (n =19; 25.7%) followed by paraphenylenediamine (PPD) (n = 18; 24.3%) and thiomersal (n = 10; 13.5%). A significant correlation was observed between suspected hair-dye allergy and PPD positivity (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Cosmetics are not very safe as claimed by the manufacturers, as it may contain many allergens. Contact sensitivity from cosmetics is becoming an important health problem.