Photo Credit: Pawel Kacperek

The following is a summary of “Contact allergens responsible for eyelid dermatitis in adults,” published in the February 2024 issue of Dermatology by Yazdanparast, et al.

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is recognized as the leading cause of eyelid dermatitis, yet it is frequently misdiagnosed. For a study, researchers sought to assess the characteristics of patients with eyelid dermatitis who were referred for patch testing.

In the retrospective study, patients were categorized into three subgroups: those with only eyelid involvement, those with eyelid and other areas involved, and those without eyelid involvement. Data collected included diagnoses, medical history, personal care products and makeup use, occupational dermatitis, and positive allergens. Statistical analyses were conducted using an independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and chi-squared test.

The study included 427 patients referred for patch testing, of which 139 had eyelid dermatitis. ACD was the most prevalent diagnosis across all groups. Patients with only eyelid involvement showed significantly higher use of shaving cream and hair conditioner. Among these patients, nickel sulfate emerged as the most common allergen.

Patch testing is the gold standard for evaluating eyelid contact dermatitis and is crucial for accurately identifying responsible allergens. The study underscored the importance of patch testing in effectively treating and managing eyelid dermatitis.

Reference: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1346-8138.17140