[Allergic contact eczema from shellac and 1,3-butylene glycol in an eyeliner].

BACKGROUND

The diagnostic approach to eyelid eczema is often a great problem in daily practice.

PATIENT AND METHOD

A 16-year old girl developed recurrent severe pruritic edema of the eyelids, followed by redness and scaling. Various cosmetics particularly an eyeliner were considered as possible causes. Patch testing was performed with the standard series, some supplemental series and all ingredients of the eyeliner.

RESULTS

The eyeliner produced a papular reaction after 2 days of open application, confirming a high degree of contact sensitization. The patient reacted with a 3+ reaction to the ingredients shellac (20% in ethanol) and 1,3-butylene glycol (2% in water). All remaining materials failed to produce a reaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Careful allergologic investigations are necessary in cases of edema and/or eczema of the eyelids; the cosmetics used by the patients are of utmost importance. The causative allergen may not be present in the usual patch test series and can only be identified by testing all ingredients. Shellac is now widely used in cosmetics and is increasingly identified as a contact allergen in eye make up.