The Evaluation of Contact Sensitivity with Standard and Cosmetic Patch Test Series in Rosacea Patients

BACKGROUND: Rosacea is a common dermatosis characterized by erythema, telangiectasia, papules and pustules. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate contact sensitivity in the rosacea patients. METHODS: We included 65 rosacea patients and 60 healthy volunteers in the study. The patient and control groups were patch tested with European baseline series and cosmetic series. RESULTS: A positive reaction to at least 1 allergen in the European standard series was found in 32.3% of rosacea patients and 20.0% of subjects in the control group while the relevant numbers were 30.8% of rosacea patients and 10% of controls with the cosmetic series (p=0.08). In total, we found a positive reaction to at least 1 allergen in 38.5% of patients and 25.0% of controls (p=0.15). We did not find a statistically significant relationship between a positive reaction to 1 allergen in total and the gender, skin type, rosacea type, ocular involvement, age and disease duration. There were more symptoms in patients with a positive reaction to allergens (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Contact sensitivity was detected more common in rosacea patients. Patch testing may be useful in the treatment and follow up of rosacea patients especially if symptoms such as itching, burning and stinging are present.