[Contact allergy to cosmetic ingredients in an adult Danish population. The Allergy Study, the Population Studies in Glostrup].

The distribution of allergic contact sensitization to cosmetic ingredients was studied in an unselected population, living in Western Copenhagen, Denmark. Ready-to-apply patch tests were mailed to 793 adults, and 567 (71.5%) participated. The tests were read two days after application. Sensitization to one or more of the cosmetic ingredients included in the test was diagnosed in 3.2% of the males and in 4.2% of the females. Old age was associated with an insignificantly higher probability of sensitization (p = 0.06). When adjusted for sex and age, the probability of sensitization was increased by a factor 2.3 among those reporting a history of cosmetic-related skin symptoms as compared to those who did not (p = 0.08). Among males, current daily use of cosmetics was less probable among those sensitized than among those not sensitized (p = 0.02). Contact sensitization to cosmetic ingredients was relatively frequent in the general population. Sex was not an important risk factor for sensitization to cosmetic ingredients.