Contact sensitivity to toilet soaps

Out of 200 patients suspected to be suffering from contact dermatitis due to toilet soaps, patch tests were found to be positive in 158 patients (79%). The contact sensitivity was more frequently seen with perfumed soaps (48%) followed by non perfumed ordinary soaps (32%), glycerin soaps (8.2%), Herbal soaps (5.0%), antiseptic soaps (4.4%) and baby (1.2%), predominently in females (80%); majority of them belonging to age group of 21-40 yrs.