Facial contact dermatitis. Pathogenetic factors in China.

In 107 cases of facial contact dermatitis, routine Finn chamber epicutaneous tests with TROLAB European Standard Allergens (ESAs) were performed. Sixty-one (57%) had positive reaction. The most frequent contact allergens were paraphenylenediamine dihydrochloride (16%), followed by fragrance mix (15%), and nickel sulfate (13%). The major sensitized contactants were rims of spectacles, hair dyes, cosmetic creams, and topical medications. Among the cases caused by cosmetic cream, the positive allergens were fragrance mix, formaldehyde, wood alcohols, and balsam of Peru. In ten season-incidence cases in which ESAs and cosmetic cream epicutaneous tests were negative, the chamber and scratch-chamber tests were performed using five kinds of pollen. The results show that all chamber tests were negative, but two cases with scratch-chamber tests were positive.