2,4,6‐Tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol: The allergen which came in from the cold

Abstract

pile, rolling up the individual wrap and tying on a label which listed both the ingredients as well as the price (Figure 1). We hypothesize that as multiple wraps were regularly being rolled by hand there was likely to be direct transfer of colophonium from the hands to the skin on the face and eyelids, however, there was also the potential for airborne exposure. The patient has denied any form of hand eczema this is most likely because the skin on the hands is thicker than the face and eyelid; it is likely if she has continued to handle the beeswax wrap; that she would have developed ACD on her hands as well. DISCUSSIONBees wax wraps are increasingly popular products used as a sustainable multi-use alternative to tin foil/cling film for wrapping and covering foods. They can be bought from eco-friendly retail shops and online sites. They can also be handmade with many popular internet sites displaying videos for how to make these items at home. Colophonium (rosin) is the sticky sap produced by pine and spruce trees. It is used in a wide range of home and occupational products, most classically sticking plasters, cosmetics, waxes, polishes and paper products. Colophonium, in the form of pine resin, is often added to bees wax wraps to increase their adhesive properties.Occupational colophonium ACD is most commonly associated with the wood industry, glues, metal working fluids and soldering materials. 1 Our patient is likely to have developed her colophonium ACD through regular contact with pine resin from the bees wax wraps in her occupational setting. It is likely however that other patients may be similarly exposed in a home setting if making and using the wraps on a regular basis.We present this case to raise awareness of bees wax wraps as a new potential eco-friendly source of colophonium ACD. AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONSIman Hamid: Writingoriginal draft; writingreview and editing.