A Study of Patch Test Results in Patients with Facial Dermatitis

Jung, Ho Joo; Yun, Sook Jung; Lee, Jee Bum; Kim, Seong Jin; Lee, Seung Chul; Won, Young Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Patch test is usually performed in order to differentiate allergic contact dermatitis from other facial skin diseases; however, there are only infrequent comparative studies regarding the positive allergens patch tested between allergic contact dermatitis and other facial skin diseases.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the positivity of patch test in patients with facial dermatitis and to analyze the valid positive allergen patch tested in allergic contact dermatitis compared to other facial skin diseases. In addition, we evaluated the difference of positive allergen according to clinical features, such as age, sex, site of the lesion and duration of disease, in patients with allergic contact dermatitis.
METHODS
A total of 409 patients tested with facial dermatitis patch were retrospectively reviewed for medical recordings, including clinical features, occupational history, clinical photos and the results of a Korean standard series of patch tests.
RESULTS
Compared with other facial skin disease, patients diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis showed higher rate in the patch test, responding to 2 or more allergens. They also had more statistically valid positive allergens, such as phenylendiamine base, cobalt, colophony, thimerosal and isothizolinone. In addition, there were a few allergens which revealed significant differences in the positivity of the patch test according to the clinical features in patients diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis.
CONCLUSION
Based on these results, we could receive help in order to classify the positive allergens as relevant allergens in the patch test for the differentiation of allergic contact dermatitis from other facial skin disease.