LANOLIN ALLERGY? 155 From the above it would seem difficult to make a positive statement concerning the nature of the causative agent involved. In the case of the fractionated lanolin, that is, fractionated into the oil soluble liquid and the waxy solid, the mixed alcohols and aliphatic alcohols must be presumed present in both fractions. If, as Truter suggests, the allergen may be an impurity, then it is conceivable that further purification or other treatment is one answer. At best, available literature does not clarify the causative factor which results in a reaction attributed to lano- lin in the relatively few subjects discovered and tested. It must be remembered, too, that lanolin is a very complex natural material which is never completely identified. It may even vary season- ally. There can be wide variations in the grades and the purity of lan- olin on the market. One cannot possibly know the effect of these vari- ables on the results of reported cutaneous reactions, attributed to lanolin. It is known, however, that lanolin and its derivatives of vastly improved purity are available on the market today as a result of newer refining techniques. SUmmARY The cosmetic chemist must be on the alert for possible allergic reac- tion to or irritation from many materials. Also, it is a generally accepted fact that no material is universally safe. In the case of lanolin, however, the bulk of the evidence seems to indicate that it is not a potent sensitizer. The known incidence of allergy attributed to lanolin as reported in the literature is extremely low. The evidence on the nature of the causative factor in so-called lanolin allergy does not seem to be conclusive. The further purification of lanolin, the fractionation of lanolin, and the devel- opment of the new derivatives may contribute to a reduction of the al- ready very low incidence of reaction. However, reduction of the rela- tively infrequent cutaneous reactions to lanolin has not been a prime objective of research, which instead is concerned with the development of new cosmetic and pharmaceutical materials. (Received October 18, 1965) REFERENCES (1) Lower, E. S., Mfg. Chem., 15, 13 and 18 (1944). (2) Priest, C. S., Australian J. Pharm., 27, 27 (1946). (3) Ramirez, M. A., and ElleL J. J., J. Allergy, 1,489 (1930). (4) Sulzberger, M. B., and Morse, J. L., J.A.M.A., 96, 2099 (1931). (5) Sezary, A., Presse Med., 93, 1880 (1936). (6) Bonnerie, P., Aetiologie Und Pathogenese Der Ekzemkrankheiten, NYT Nordisk Forlag, Copenhagen (1939).

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