According to a hit list of allergens compiled by the German Surveillance System of Dermatological Hospitals (Interessenverbund der dermatologischen Kliniken - IVDK) the following substances are the most frequent triggers of allergies (evaluation of 9676 tests in the year 2000):
| Nickel sulfate |
15,5% |
| Duftstoff-Mix (fragrance mix) |
10,5% |
| Balsam of Peru |
8,8% |
| Thiomersal |
7,4% |
| Cobalt chloride |
5,4% |
| Woolwax alcohols |
4,2% |
| Colophony |
4,2% |
| MDBGN(Dibromodicyanobutane)* |
4,2% |
| p-Phenylendiamine |
4,1% |
| Potassium dichromate |
3,5% |
| Thiuram-Mix |
2,5% |
| (Chlor-)Methylisothiazolinone* |
2,3% |
| Neomycine sulfate |
2,3% |
| Mercury(II) amide chloride |
2,2% |
| Terpentine (tee tree oil) |
2,1% |
| Formaldehyde* |
1,8% |
| Propolis |
1,8% |
| Bufexamac |
1,4% |
| Benzocaine |
1,4% |
| Epoxy resin |
1,2% |
| Cetearylalcohol |
1,2% |
| Paraben-mix* |
1,2% |
*) preservatives in cosmetics, among others
Source: Ärztliche Praxis - Dermatologie (5), Sept.-Oct. 2001, p. 30 | 
