Contact Allergy to Castor Oil, but Not to Castor Wax

Abstract

Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil (CAS 8001-79-4), a vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of Ricinus communis, is widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, and may be a cause of allergic contact dermatitis from these products. We present two patients with allergic contact dermatitis from cosmetics containing castor oil, in whom a correct diagnosis was achieved by patch testing castor oil 'as is'. PEGylated and/or hydrogenated derivatives (the latter formerly also available from patch test allergen suppliers) and/or cosmetics containing these specific derivatives did not result in contact allergy or allergic contact dermatitis. This observation might be relevant for the manufacturing of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In the future, further research into the allergenicity of castor oil and its numerous derivatives, and their optimal patch test concentrations, may be desirable.

Severe contact cheilitis from cera alba and other cosmetic oils, fats and waxes in lip balms

“…has not yet been convincingly documented. Other examples of possible culprit 'lipid' allergens in cases of allergic contact cheilitis include ricinus communis seed oil (castor oil) 7 and lanolin, 3 both negative in our patient, as well as Copernicia cerifera (Carnauba wax), 8 which, although present in one of the lip balms, could not be tested. Colophonium derivatives may equally be present in some lip cosmetics, 9 although these were not identified in products used by our patient.…”

“…Candelilla cera ( E. cerifera ) has been previously published as a relevant culprit in lip balms, 5 and other cosmetics, 6 whereas contact allergy to cosmetically used butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) and helianthus annuus seed oil has not yet been convincingly documented. Other examples of possible culprit ‘lipid’ allergens in cases of allergic contact cheilitis include ricinus communis seed oil (castor oil) 7 and lanolin, 3 both negative in our patient, as well as Copernicia cerifera (Carnauba wax), 8 which, although present in one of the lip balms, could not be tested. Colophonium derivatives may equally be present in some lip cosmetics, 9 although these were not identified in products used by our patient.…”

A New Benzylated Fatty Acid Amide Amphoteric Surfactant Derived from Hydrogenated Castor Oil with Ultra‐Low Interfacial Tension between Crude Oil and Brine

“…Hydrogenated castor oil (HCO) with high melting point of 85 °C exhibits stable physical properties, and much attention has been devoted to the hydrogenation process (Choi et al, 2017; De Cassia De Souza Schneider et al, 2013; Martinelli et al, 2005) and its use in lubricants (Danish and Parrott, 1971; Wang et al, 2010), coatings (Gauthier et al, 2012; Hiew et al, 2019), cosmetics (Verheyden et al, 2017), and pharmaceutics (Bose and Bogner, 2007; Nakamura et al, 2016). However, chemical modification of HCO has been rarely investigated, except for soap formation (Ishchuk et al, 1971), fatty amide wax (Huyan et al, 2018; Yu et al, 2017), and ethoxylated oil (Pang and Andersen, 1997).…”