BACKGROUND Applying kumkum and sticker bindi on the forehead and hair parting is universally followed by Hindu women as a traditional symbol. This tradition is more followed in south India, especially by married women as sindoor in hair parting. There are more complaints of itching, burning and redness on forehead and hair parting where sticker bindi and kumkum are applied in women attending dermatology outpatient department. Aim of the study is to evaluate kumkum and sticker bindi dermatitis with relevance to patch testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS 50 clinically suspected cases of dermatitis over forehead (Glabella) and hair parting were taken up for study. Patch testing was done with patients own kumkum, sticker bindi, turmeric allergen (As turmeric is used in the preparation of kumkum), nickel (as nickel is one of the major ingredients in sticker bindi). RESULTS Out of 50 cases tested, 38 patients (76%) were positive for patch testing and results are statistically significant. CONCLUSION Dermatitis (allergic contact dermatitis) to kumkum, sticker bindi are proved by the patch testing. Kumkum and sticker bindi have a wide popularity among people as cosmetics and also for their traditional and religious beliefs. Application of them is inevitable in the community, so an alternative should be found (heated and dried kumkum which is non-allergenic). As the incidence of kumkum dermatitis is raising, we can think of inclusion of kumkum and turmeric in Indian standard series (ISS) of allergens.