Rosacea

In patients with rosacea, cosmetics and topical medications were the most frequent allergens, especially corticosteroids and antifungals.

[…] Furthermore, informing patients with rosacea about the possibility of repeat open application testing or cosmetic use testing before regular application of products could help to optimize clinical management.” Data from all patients (n=200) who underwent patch testing and were diagnosed with rosacea at the Allergy Clinic of Hospital General Universitario de Valencia in Spain from 1991 through 2019 were analyzed in this study. The patients were allergic to metals (43.6%), primarily nickel sulfate (28.7%), medications (17.1%), preservatives (13.2%), fragrances (8.8%), and dyes (7.2%). The study authors concluded, “We highlight the high prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with rosacea, thus supporting the use of patch tests in this population. The patients underwent Grupo Español de Investigación en Dermatitis de Contacto y Alergia Cutánea (GEIDAC) testing (100%) and testing using the preservative series (28.5%), cosmetic series (7.5%), and photopatch testing (2.5%). The most common types of allergic irritants were evaluated. Findings from a retrospective cohort study indicate that cosmetics and topical medications were the most common culprits causing allergic sensitization in patients with rosacea.