Abstract: Objective: To identify the main pathogenic components of facial contact dermatitis patients. Methods: The data of the patients with facial contact dermatitis who underwent patch testing and photopatch testing at our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Results: 51 patients were performed patch testing with the Chinese standard allergens and cosmetic allergens, and the overall positive rate was 96%. The allergens, in order of positivity rate were nickel sulfate (47.1%), cobalt chloride (35.3%), methylisothiazolinone (27.5%), textile dye mixture (19.6%), octyl gallate (19.6%), rosin (13.7%), p-phenylenediamine (13.7%), thiomersal (13.7%), tert butyl hydroquinone (13.7%) and dodecyl gallate (13.7%). 46 patients completed photosensitivity test and photopatch test, of them, photosensitivity in 14 cases (30.43%). 7 cases were sensitive to UVA (15.22%) and 8 cases were sensitive to UVB (17.39%). The positivity rate of photopatch test was 19.6%. The common allergens of photopatch were etophenate (6.5%), decyl glucoside (6.5%) and crestrezole trisiloxane (4.3%).  Conclusion: Preservatives, spices, heavy metals, emulsifiers, surfactants and other raw materials in cosmetics may cause contact sensitization. Patients with facial cosmetic dermatitis may have photosensitive reaction and photoallergy. Comprehensive patch test can provide a reliable reference for patients with facial cosmetic dermatitis.

Key words: cosmetics, allergens, cosmetic dermatitis, patch test, photopatch test