Allergic contact dermatitis of the eyelids: An interdisciplinary review

Purpose: A review of the published literature on the pathogenesis and treatment of eyelid allergic contact dermatitis and ocular surface involvement. Methods: Literature search of MEDLINE (Ovid) was conducted using for allergic contact dermatitis and disease of the eyelid or periorbital skin. Dates included in search criteria were from January 1, 2010 to January 12, 2023. 120 articles were reviewed by at least two authors. Results: Allergic eyelid contact dermatitis(ACD) is a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction to chemical exposure of sensitized eyelid skin. Most patients improve with avoidance strategies. Understanding chemicals that may trigger eyelid ACD, identifying allergens with patch testing, and use of topical steroids can help patients with this challenging disease. Conclusions: Recalcitrant allergic eyelid dermatitis can be addressed by an interdisciplinary team and avoidance strategies based on patch testing.

Automated summary

The purpose of this review is to summarize the published literature on the pathogenesis and treatment of eyelid allergic contact dermatitis and ocular surface involvement. The review involved a literature search of MEDLINE and analysis of 120 articles. The results suggest that allergic eyelid contact dermatitis is a Type IV hypersensitivity reaction that can be improved through avoidance strategies, patch testing, and use of topical steroids.