Background: Foot dermatoses are a common malady in children. It has a varied presentation ranging from patchy fissured scaly lesions to disabling highly inflammatory vesicular eruption. A role for foot wear exacerbating these dermatoses is a possibility, which could be confirmed by patch testing.To evaluate the role of patch testing in determining the allergen either causing or exacerbating various foot dermatoses in children.Methods: Patch testing was done in 40 children with various foot dermatoses using the standard footwear series and the results were read after 48 hours, 96 hours and again after 7 days. Also, skin biopsy was done in 10 cases from the representative lesions.Results: Patch test was positive in 24(60%) patients to different antigens. Disperse orange (25%) was found to be the commonest allergen followed by epoxy resin (15%), neomycin sulphate (12.5%) and black rubber mix (10%). Conclusions: Patch testing has a major role in finding out the causative agent or at least the exacerbating footwear in various foot dermatoses. Disperse orange was found to be the most common allergen. The diagnosis of acrodermatitis or JPD should not deter doing a patch testing.