Abstract

Background: Patch testing is a useful tool to detect the allergens in patients with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The Indian Standard Series (ISS), consisting of 20 allergens approved by the Contact and Occupational Dermatoses Forum of India (CODFI), is available in India for this purpose. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of Dermatology, in a tertiary care centre in South India, after obtaining the approval of institutional ethical and research committee. Data was collected from patch test register maintained in the department, of all patients with history suggestive of contact allergy and in whom patch testing was done with Indian Standard Series. Results: A total of 152 patients were included in the study out of which 86 (56.6%) were males and 66 (43.4%) were females. No statistically significant association was found between atopy and patch test positivity (P value 0.923). Among the total 152 patients included in the study, 76 patients (50%) had positive patch test to at least one allergen. In our study the most common allergen with positive patch test was potassium dichromate (n=25; 16.5%) followed by fragrance mix (n=22; 14.5%), nickel sulphate (n=12; 7.9%), paraphenylene diamine (PPD) (n=11; 7.3%), and thiuram mix (n=10; 6.4%). Conclusion: Patch testing has an important role in finding the causative allergen of contact dermatitis that otherwise becomes recurrent and chronic, requiring prolonged treatment, thereby interfering the daily activities of the individual.