[Hairdressers' eczema--results of expert assessment 1984-1987].

The following study is based on the evaluation of 116 expert opinions obtained between 1984 and 1987 regarding patients working as hairdressers and suffering from eczemas. The most frequent allergen was nickel sulfate (57.7%). Exclusive nickel allergy without sensitization to substances professionally used, however, was only found in 6.9% of the female patients tested. Nickel allergy associated with sensitization to such substances was observed in 50.5% of the patients. 90 out of the 116 persons tested showed positive reactions to the indicator substance used in the hairdressers' trade and/or to the substances actually used during their work. Exclusive sensitization to one or more substances of the indicator group (occupationally used substances negative) was found in 13.3% of the patients; exclusive sensitization to substances actually used (indicator group negative) was seen in 16.7%.