Allergic contact dermatitis in Trieste from 1987 to 1991

Between 1987 and 1991, the authors made patch-tests on 1,427 patients, 389 male and 1,038 female, of mean age 36 years (6-70 years) and mostly suffering from eczema. The standard tests of Italian Group for Research into Contact Dermatitis and the Environment (GIRDCA) were used, following the best data of recent years. Nickel sulphate, thiomersal, "Fragrance mix", cobalt sulphate and potassium bichromate were the allergens varied with age: nickel and thiomersal were most frequently positive between 20 and 30 years. In contrast, the highest frequency of positivity to fragrance mix was seen between 40 and 60 years. Positivity to a simple allergen had a tendancy to reduce with age.