Allergy to various components of topical preparations in stasis dermatitis and leg ulcer.

Patients suffering from stasis dermatitis and leg ulcers (192) were found to give an allergic reaction in epicutaneous tests to one or more components of topical preparations in 69.2% of cases. The most common reactions were obtained with neomycin 34.0% and its component framycetin 31.2%, wool alcohols 22.9%, balsam of Peru 21.4%, chlorquinaldon 16.7%, bacitracin 13.1%, chinoform 10.9%, dequalin 9.9%, formaldehyde 4.2% and parabens 3.6%. The incidence of allergic reactions reflects local use of preparations containing various allergens as well as their capacity to produce alllergy. Allergy may in some cases interfere with effective topical therapy. Debrisan dextran polymer beads were found to be suitable for treatment of ulcers of multiallergic patients without risk of contact allergy.