From April 2001 to December 2002, a group of 514 patients (178 men, 336 women, average age 42.8 years) suffering from chronic eczema were tested by means of epicutaneous tests for contact hypersensitivity to selected auxiliary substances of dermatological external and cosmetic preparations. In 194 patients, the principal diagnosis was atopic eczema. Of the preservatives, the most frequently sensitizing agents were Thiomersal in 13.6%, phenylmercuric acetate in 7.8%, formaldehyde in 5.6%, Bronopol in 5.1%, chlorohexidine in 3.3%, dibromodicyanobutane/phenoxyethanol in 2.9%, chloroacetamide in 2.1%, Kathon CG and parabenes in 1.9%, imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea in 1.4%, glutaraldehyde in 1.2%,DMDM-hydantoin in 1.0%, dichlorophen in 0.8%, sorbic acid, phenoxyethanol and triclosan in 0.6%, benzalkonium chloride, Quaternium-15 and chlorocresol in 0.4% and chloroquinaldol in 0.2% of the group of patients. Of antioxidizing agents, it was dodecyl gallate in 2.3%, butylhydroxyanisol in 1.2%, propyl gallate in 0.6%, butylhydroxytoluen in 0.4% of the group o patients and of emulsifiers, alcoholes lanae in 5.1%, triethanolamine in 1.6% and propylene glycol in 0.4% of the group of patients. A complete list of contained substances in drug information sheets of both pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations seems necessary particularly for patients suffering from eczema. The results of the test can serve as feed-back information for the manufacturers of both pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations.

        Key words: sensitization – auxiliary substances – preservatives – antioxidants – emulsifiers