Contact dermatitis is a common clinical problem and frequently caused by cosmetics. Detection of causative allergen is important in prevention and treatment of this disease. Patch rest has been accepted as the only reliable diagnostic method to detect allergens. We analyzed patch test results of dermatologic outpatients and evaluated common new antigens producing cosmetic and noncosmetic contact dermatitis.

We reviewed patch test results of the 324 patients with suggestion contact dermatitis who had visited our department from May 1985 to February 1996. We divided the patients in two groups(cosmetic contact dermatitis group and non-cosmetic contact dermatitis group)and compared the results.

1) High positive reaction rate to nickel sulfate(14.7%), fragrance mix(11.0%), and mercury ammonium chloride(9.6%) was seen in cosmetic contact dermatitis group. Lip cosmetics and make-up preparation were the products to which patients reacted the most. Among the cosmetic products, skin care products ranked the first in positive reaction rate.

2) Nickel sulfate(21.7%) was the most common allergen, followed by cobalt chloride(13.3%), mercury ammonium chloride(10.0%), and fragrance mix(8.3%) in noncosmetic contact dermatitis.

Consmetic contact dermatitis was more common than noncosmetic contact dermatits. Nickel sulfate, mercury ammonium chloride, cobalt chloride and fragrance mix were found to be the most common allergens of cosmetic and noncosmetic contact dermatitis.