Contact dermatitis from lip balms that contain peppermint oil
Researchers at McMaster University, in Hamilton, Ontario, describe 4 patients with allergic contact cheilitis (inflammation of the lip) following exposure to peppermint oil contained in a lip balm product.
First, the details.
- Each patient developed inflammation of their lips and the skin around the lips.
- The lip balm they used contained potential sensitizers such as propolis, lanolin, coconut oil, almond oil, peppermint oil, and vitamin E.
- They were tested with a patch test for allergens.
And the results.
- The patch-test results showed that peppermint oil was the most likely cause of the allergic reaction in these patients.
The bottom line?
Peppermint oil is not commonly reported as a cause allergic contact cheilitis. In 1995 researchers from Glasgow Royal Infirmary, in the UK reported a series of patients with contact sensitivity to peppermint.
“However,” the authors concluded, “with the widespread use of lip balms containing peppermint oil, more cases of peppermint oil-induced allergic contact cheilitis may be expected.”
MedlinePlus tells us, “Allergic/hypersensitivity reactions may occur from using peppermint… by mouth or on the skin, including throat closing (laryngeal spasm), breathing problems (bronchial constriction/asthma symptoms), or skin rash/hives/contact dermatitis. People with known allergy/hypersensitivity to peppermint leaf or oil should avoid peppermint products.”
8/5/10 22:04 JR
