Contact hypersensitivity to selected excipients of dermatological topical preparations and cosmetics in patients with chronic eczema.

OBJECTIVE 1) Assessment of the frequency of contact sensitization to selected excipients of dermatological topical preparations and cosmetics in patients with chronic eczema. 2) Detection of the sources of sensitization. METHODS 1,927 patients with chronic eczema (mean age 44.3 years, 601 males, 1,326 females) were patch tested with selected excipients. RESULTS The main rates of sensitization observed were: thiomersal 11.3%, wool alcohols 4.0%, phenylmercuric acetate 3.1%, formaldehyde 2.5%, dodecyl gallate 2.0%, Bronopol 1.9%, dibromodicyanobutane/ phenoxyethanol (1:4) 1.7%, chloracetamide 1.6%, chlorhexidine digluconate 1.5%, Kathon CG 1.4%, parabens 1.1%, diazolidinyl urea 0.9%, imidazolidinyl urea 0.7%, benzalkonium chloride 0.7%, and Quaternium-15 (quaternary ammonium salt) 0.7%. CONCLUSION The rate of sensitization to the excipients included in dermatological topical preparations and cosmetics in patients with chronic eczema is significant. Complete information on all the ingredients is necessary.