Background/objective: Contact dermatitis to topical medicaments is commonly encountered in daily practice of dermatologists.The incidence and ranking of common allergens in topical medicaments may vary depending on local prescription and self-medication behavior.The objective of this study is to investigate the clinical features and common Bent End Handle allergens of contact dermatitis to topical medicaments in Taiwan.Methods: From 1978 to 2005, a total of 3717 patients had been patch tested in our Contact Dermatitis Clinic.
Any case with suspected contact allergy to topical medicaments receiving patch testing was included in this study.Results: During this period, a total of 608 patients were included and 603 of them completed the patch tests.Of the 603 patch-tested patients, 397 (66%) were positive for at least one antigen, and all patch tests were negative in 206 (34%).Patients with positive patch testing were characterized by younger age and location on the limbs and skin folds, while sex and atopy were not different among the two groups.
A total of 1076 positive reactions to identifiable medicaments or main ingredients were recorded in 397 patients with positive patch testing.Among these positive reactions, 701/1076 counts (65%) were read as relevant.Traditional herbal medicaments 5 Piece RAF Reclining Sectional (50%), antiseptics (21%), vehicle ingredients (9%), antibiotics (8%), corticosteroids (2%), anesthetics (2%), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (1%) were the most common sensitizers in this study, and the common concomitant allergens were fragrance (52%) and metal (20%).Conclusion: The results emphasized the special cultural consideration in Taiwanese patients with contact dermatitis to topical medicaments.