Allergic contact cheilitis from a lipstick misdiagnosed as herpes labialis: Subsequent worsening due to Zovirax contact allergy.

Esen Ozkaya, Zeynep Topkarci, Güzin Ozarmağan

Department of Dermatology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, 34093 Capa, Istanbul, Turkey. profeo@istanbul.edu.tr

The Australasian journal of dermatology 2007 Aug

filter terms:

A 29-year-old Turkish woman with allergic contact cheilitis from a lipstick was misdiagnosed as herpes labialis and subsequently worsened with the application of Zovirax cream. Patch tests were positive to Zovirax cream, propylene glycol, the patient's favourite lipstick and propyl gallate. No reaction was seen with Zovirax ophthalmic ointment and Zovirax tablet. The propylene glycol component of the Zovirax cream and the propyl gallate component of the lipstick were regarded as the responsible contact sensitizers. The differential diagnosis was challenging due to concomitant contact sensitization with these agents.

Citation

Esen Ozkaya, Zeynep Topkarci, Güzin Ozarmağan. Allergic contact cheilitis from a lipstick misdiagnosed as herpes labialis: Subsequent worsening due to Zovirax contact allergy. The Australasian journal of dermatology. 2007 Aug;48(3):190-2