Failure of routine patch test results to detect eyelid dermatitis.

The results of patch tests in one hundred patients were classified according to the site of clinical involvement. None of the twelve patients with clinical contact dermatitis of the eyelids had a positive patch test reaction when tested with a routine screening patch test tray. More than 50 percent of the patients with contact dermatitis in exposed areas other than the eyelids had one or more positive results of epicutaneous tests. Although we cannot explain why standard patch test reactions are unsatisfactory indicators of eyelid dermatitis, this fact has significant clinical importance.