PHOTOCONTACT ALLERGY TO OXYBENZONE - 10 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

Intolerance of sunscreen agents has often been reported in the literat ure. This mainly comprises photosensitization to sunscreens such as ox ybenzone. The aims of this study were to establish the incidence of ph otocontact allergy to oxybenzone and its relationship with the use of other cosmetics. From 1982 to 1992 we performed photopatch tests on 28 3 patients with suspected photodermatosis. Forty-six patients (16%) ha d positive reactions: 61 positive photopatch tests and 9 positive patc h tests. Photocontact allergy to sunscreens was divided into 2 main gr oups: 35 cases to oxybenzone and 17 cases to para-aminobenzoic acid an d its derivatives. Among our 35 cases of photoallergy to oxybenzone, m ore than one third had photoallergy to a daily moisturizer that contai ned oxybenzone.