Contact sensitizations to topical corticosteroids

Recently, contact hypersensitivity to topical corticosteroids (TC) has been increasingly recognized. Notwithstanding, the frequency of these allergies and standard methods for testing have not been established. This study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of contact hypersensitivity to TC in our geographical area. 491 consecutive patients affected with various types of eczematous dermatitis were patch tested with a special 'corticosteroid series' of allergens. 10/491 (2,1%) subjects reacted at least to one TC. Budesonide and hydrocortisone-17-butyrate were the main sensitizers. All the patients allergic to TC suffered from chronic eczemas. The positive TC were relevant in 7/10 patients. Our data suggest that, in our area, allergy to TC is an occurrence more frequent than previously considered. Longlasting eczematous diseases resistant to or worsened by TC seem to be the main predisposing factor to the development of contact hypersensitivity to TC.