A Study of the Causative Diseases for Eyelid Dermatitis / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The eyelids are uniquely susceptible to inflammation. Although eyelid dermatitis is common by various causes, there are few comprehensive studies on this disease in the Korean literature. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the causative disease for eyelid dermatitis in Koreans. METHODS: Medical records of patients with eyelid dermatitis treated between 2006 and 2011 were reviewed. RESULTS: Four hundred and five patients (152 males and 303 females) were enrolled in this study, and the mean age of onset was 32.7 (range 0~84). The most common causes of eyelid dermatitis were allergic contact dermatitis (42.6%), atopic dermatitis (27.9%), irritant contact dermatitis (12.7%), seborrheic dermatitis (8.6%), insect bite (2.4%), etc., in the order of frequency. In the 194 patients of eyelid dermatitis caused by allergic contact dermatitis, 98 patients (50.5%) were in the 30's to 50's, and 120 patients (94.5%) of the 127 patients with atopic dermatitis were under thirty years of age. The frequency of causative diseases for eyelid dermatitis in men were atopic dermatitis (44.7%), allergic contact dermatitis (23.7%) and irritant contact dermatitis (12.5%), and those in women were allergic contact dermatitis (52.1%), atopic dermatitis (19.5%) and irritant contact dermatitis (12.9%). There was a seasonal variation with frequency in fall (30.3%) and spring (26.4%). Among the 341 patients who were followed up, 294 patients (86.2%) showed good response to treatment, but 64 patients (21.8%) of the improved 294 patients relapsed. Four patients experienced adverse effects including irritation (3 cases) and folliculitis (1 case) after using topical glucocorticoids. CONCLUSION: The frequency of eyelid dermatitis decreased by age. Eyelid dermatitis was more common in women, but the ratio of males to females was increased compared with previous reports. The most common causes of eyelid dermatitis were allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis, which were similar with the results of previous reports. Eyelid dermatitis was more common in fall and spring. The recurrence rate was relatively high, but adverse effects of topical corticosteroids were unusual. This study will be useful for clinicians when treating patients with eyelid dermatitis.