Contact dermatitis in Nigeria (i). Hand dermatitis in women.

Of 545 consecutive contact dermatitis clinic patients, 271 (49.7%) were women, 29 (10.7%) of whom had hand dermatitis alone. 17 (58.6%) of these hand cases were allergic, the main sensitizers being nickel and essential oils in oranges. Dress makers were mostly affected by nickel, while orange sellers and peelers were positive to orange peel, fragrance mix, balsam of Peru and formaldehyde in varying combinations. 8 (27.6%) of the hand cases were due to irritants and wet jobs, and possibly to allergens not tested. 24 (83%) of the hand cases were occupational. Only 1 Nigerian woman had true housewife's hand dermatitis. It was not possible to define the rôle of atopy because of unreliable histories. 2 cases of pompholyx and a negative patch test occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy.