Questionnaire study of the prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis from cosmetics in Israel.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of cosmetics-related contact dermatitis is rising, owing mainly to the wider use of cosmetics by the public and the routine diagnostic use of patch tests.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of cosmetics allergy in Israel.


METHODS
A questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 360 female customers of pharmacies and beauty salons in two areas of the country. Items included general health profile, family history of atopy, occurrence of rash due to patch-test-proven cosmetics allergy, anatomic sites of the rash, subjective aspects regarding the rash, and cosmetics consumption habits.


RESULTS
Patient age ranged from 15 to 89 years. Eleven subjects (3.1%) had patch-test-proven cosmetics allergic contact dermatitis. There was a correlation between proven cosmetics allergy and subjective sensitivity to facial cream (p = .03).


CONCLUSIONS
The 3.1% prevalence rate of cosmetics contact allergic dermatitis in a randomly selected population in Israel is similar to values reported in the literature (about 2%). The higher-than-expected rate of subjective sensitivity to facial cream among patients with proven cosmetics allergy may be explained by the wide use of facial cream, facial skin susceptibility to insult, and the relatively long duration of contact of facial cream (a leave-on product) with the skin.
Trattner
Akiva
A
Department of Dermatology, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Slodownik
Dan
D
Jbarah
Adnan
A
Ingber
Arieh
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D003358:Cosmetics