Calcium pantothenate is present in cosmetics and may cause allergic contact dermatitis

Abstract

Calcium pantothenate (CAS no. 137‐08‐6) is the calcium salt of pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). It is used in cosmetics due to its anti‐static and hair conditioning properties. A 53‐year‐old female nurse's aide presented with intermittent facial eruptions (Figure S1). Patch tests were positive to calcium pantothenate, an ingredient of two of her products (a cleansing milk and a facial tonic). To our knowledge, no previous cases of sensitization from calcium pantothenate have been reported except for one case of systemic dermatitis from a nutritional supplement in a dexpanthenol‐sensitized patient.

Allergic contact dermatitis from vitamins: A systematic review

“…37 The example of ACD to vitamin E in USA is paradigmatic, given its wide use in topical products and the consequent high incidence of alpha tocopherol-induced ACD in that country. 97 However, the increased cosmetic use of water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin B5 10,36,40,41,49 or vitamin C derivatives [62][63][64][65][66][67][68] is quickly gaining the gap in inducing ACD by such a group of vitamins and some clinicians have focused their attention on such substances, suggesting to include them in patch tests series for cosmetics 47,67 or to perform investigations on larger cohorts of patients with ACD. 46 The drugs originated from vitamins represent another riddle, for the potential allergic cross-reaction between the synthetic drug-derivative and the naïve vitamin.…”

“…[46][47][48] Vitamin B5 in cosmetics as calcium pantothenate was reported to be a relevant sensitizer. 49 However, due to the complexity of vitamin B5 metabolic pathways, it is also possible that pantothenate may require metabolic activation. Metabolic pathways activated by microsomes play an important role in biochemical modifications of the hapten.…”

“…Vitamin B5 in cosmetics as calcium pantothenate was reported to be a relevant sensitizer 49 . However, due to the complexity of vitamin B5 metabolic pathways, it is also possible that pantothenate may require metabolic activation.…”