Eyelid dermatitis: an evaluation of 150 patients

This study was performed to evaluate eyelid dermatitis in a group of patients of our Allergy Unit between January 1990 and April 1991. Among the 1158 patients seen during this period, 150 had eyelid dermatitis: 135 females and 15 males, with a mean age of 35 years. Of the 150 patients with eyelid dermatitis, 54 had eczema localized to the eyelids only, 49 to the eyelids and face, 19 to the eyelids and hands, and 28 to the eyelids and other sites. 98 patients (65.3%) were diagnosed as having allergic contact dermatitis, 25 (16.6%) irritant contact dermatitis, 21 (14%) atopic dermatitis, and 6 (4%) seborrhoeic dermatitis. Patch test reactions to nickel sulphate, Kathon CG and fragrance-mix occurred more frequently in patients with eyelid dermatitis than in those without.