Study of the frequency of allergens in cosmetics components in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis

background: contact dermatitis to cosmetics is a common dermatosis, especially in adults and professionals who handle them. objective: the objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of sensitization to cosmetics' components in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis and to identify the main sensitizers related to occupational contact dermatitis. methods: during the period of january 2008 to june 2010, all the patients with a presumptive diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis to cosmetics were selected. the patients were submitted to the patch tests of cosmetics series, composed by ten substances. results: among the 147 patients studied sensitization to cosmetics components occurred in 31,29% of the cases, 14 of those (19,18%) equally corresponding to bht and triethanolamine substances, 13 (17,81%) to ammonium thioglycolate, 09 to sorbic acid (12,33%), 08 to tosilamida (10,95%), 06 to germall (8,22%). the other elements tested showed indices of 5% or less. a higher frequency of contact dermatitis to cosmetics was observed in women and the age most affected was concordant with the age range of greatest professional activity of the population. conclusion: allergic contact dermatitis was more frequently associated with triethanolamine, bht and ammonium thioglycolate, and the relation with occupational contact dermatitis was discreet.