title: Allergic patch test reactions associated with cosmetics: retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data from the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, 2001-2004.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergy to cosmetics is common.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to characterize patients with positive patch test reactions associated with a cosmetic source, to identify common allergens; and to explore gender and occupational associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 6621 female and 3440 male patients, 1582 female (23.8%) and 611 of male (17.8%) patients had at least one allergic patch test reaction associated with a cosmetic source. Of "allergic" patients (>1 allergic reaction, n = 6815), females were 1.21 times more likely to have an allergic reaction associated with a cosmetic source than were male patients (p < .0001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-1.31). Within the "cosmetic allergic" group (n = 2243), head and neck involvement was significantly higher in female than in male patients (49.3% vs 23.7%, p < .0001). One hundred twenty-five patients had occupationally related allergic reactions associated with a cosmetic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is limited by its cross-sectional, retrospective design.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of all patients studied, 21.8% had an allergic reaction associated with a cosmetic. Site of dermatitis, cosmetic categories, and specific allergens differed somewhat by gender.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Minnesota, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Warshaw
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Buchholz
authors.forename: Donald V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Belsito
authors.forename: Howard I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Maibach
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rietschel
authors.forename: Kathryn A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Zug
authors.forename: C G Toby
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Mathias
authors.forename: Melanie D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sasseville
authors.forename: Frances J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Storrs
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Vincent A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Deleo
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics