Contact Hypersensitivity to Sorbic Acid and Propyl Gallate

Overview

The authors describe the case of a female patient with the basic diagnosis of dermatitis seborrhoicafaciei who developed contact sensitization to sorbic acid and propyl gallate from dermatologicalexternal preparations, leading to the picture of contact eczema on the face and on the neck.Sorbic acid is a well known preservative in the food industry. It is also used for the preservation ofsome drugs for internal and external treatment and of some cosmetic preparations. Propyl gallateis present in some dermatological external preparations andcosmetic preparations as an antioxidantand it has also an antimicrobial effect. It is also used in the food industry.As to dermatological external preparations used by the patient sorbic acid is present in RetinA cream and Neoaquasorb cream, propyl gallate is present in cremor leniens and in oleopaste whichcontains adepts suillus stabilized by this antioxidant.Exacerbation of the facial eczema occurred also after administration of Pervinium for thetreatment of helminthosis as Pervinium also contain sorbic acid. In case of dermatoses of aneczematous character which do not improve after current external therapy, a detailed dermatoallergologicalexamination is indicated as chronicity of the disease may be kept up by contactsensitization to some constituent of external dermatological preparations incl. auxiliary substances.

Key words:
eczema contactum - auxiliary substances - preservatives - antioxidants - sorbic acid -propyl gallate