Allergic contact angioedema to benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide (BP) is commonly used for topical acne treatment and has long been known to be a weak allergen and a strong irritant. We report a case of a 26-year-old woman, who presented with an itchy erythematous reaction and strong oedema localized to the face. Two weeks before angioedema, the patient had started a new topical treatment with a gel containing 10% BP for acne. She was patch tested to European Standard Series, including BP 1% in white petrolatum, and to the 10% BP-containing gel previously used by herself, showing positivity on day 2 to BP 1% and to the 10% BP-containing gel. Factors that suggested an association between the severe angioedematous reaction and BP topical application include the strong reaction to BP in the patch-test, the temporal relationship, the complete resolution of symptoms after the drug was withdrawn and the absence of other identified explanations.
Minciullo
P L
PL
Division and School of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Patafi
M
M
Giannetto
L
L
Ferlazzo
B
B
Trombetta
D
D
Saija
A
A
Gangemi
S
S
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000799:Angioedema / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests
D001585:Benzoyl Peroxide