[Review of the literature on adverse reactions to sunscreens 1947 to 1989].

Sunscreens in cosmetics may trigger off photoallergic contact dermatitis. In addition, they can induce allergic, irritant, or phototoxic dermatitis. Adverse reactions may also be caused by fragrances, preservatives, and other ingredients in light-protective cosmetics. We give a survey on 87 publications dealing with this issue, which appeared from 1947 through 1989. The survey comprises information on the nature of the sunscreen or other ingredient as well as the type of reaction observed in 357 patients. We also refer to the sex distribution and summarize the reasons for using products absorbing UV light. Aside from commercial preparations, all UV filters currently in use should be tested in photopatch tests in order to improve the diagnostic tools.