Allergic contact cheilitis in the United Kingdom: a retrospective study.

Abstract

Background: To date, only a few cohorts of patients with allergic cheilitis have been described, most of them from Australia and Asia.

Objective: To establish the prevalence of cheilitis in a UK specialist contact dermatitis clinic and to identify the most common allergens.

Method: We analyzed our patch-test database in a tertiary referral center in the United Kingdom, retrospectively. All patients presenting with cheilitis over a 19-year period (1982 to 2001) were included.

Results: Data were available from a total of 146 patients. A positive allergic patch-test reaction was thought to be relevant in 15% of the patients (n = 22) and to be of possible relevance in 6.8% (n = 10). Of the 22 patients with relevant allergic results, 95% (n = 21) were women. The most common allergens included fragrance mix (mainly cinnamaldehyde, oak moss, and isoeugenol) in 41% of patients, shellac in 18%, colophony in 18%, and Myroxylon pereirae in 14%. For half of the patients, the allergen was believed to stem from lipsticks or lip products. Eighteen percent of patients with allergic cheilitis reacted to only their own products.

Conclusions: Patients should be tested to extended lipstick/cosmetic vehicle series in addition to standard series. As a significant percentage of patients react to their own products only, a thorough clinical history and testing to patients' own products are important.