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Carvone: an overlooked contact allergen cross‐reacting with sesquiterpene lactones?
Author(s) -
Paulsen E.,
Andersen K. E.,
Carsen L.,
Egsgaard H.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1993.tb03511.x
Subject(s) - carvone , contact allergy , allergen , allergy , sensitization , terpene , chemistry , concomitant , patch test , allergic contact dermatitis , sesquiterpene , contact dermatitis , limonene , dermatology , medicine , essential oil , organic chemistry , food science , immunology , surgery
The terpene l ‐carvone is one of the main constituents of spearmint oil. The sensitizing potential of l ‐carvone has been considered low, but it has occasionally caused contact allergy in users of spearmint toothpaste and chewing gum. l ‐Carvone is also an oxidation product of d ‐limonene that occurs in solvents used increasingly in industry. We included l ‐carvone 5% pet, in the standard patch test series. In the 1st year, 541 patients were tested and 15 (2.77%) had positive, and 12 doubtful positive (?+) reactions to l ‐carvone. The strongest reactions were observed in 9 patients with concomitant Compositae sensitivity. The key clinical Features and other contact allergies of the patients are presented. When re‐testing with l ‐carvone in the same or lower concentrations, only 2 out 8 patients had positive reactions. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed in terms of cross‐reactions, concomitant sensitization, excited skin syndrome, irritancy and facilitated immunological response.