OLIVE OIL - CONTACT SENSITIZER OR IRRITANT

Adverse cutaneous reactions to topically applied olive oil are seldom reported, and positive patch tests to it are mostly regarded as allerg ic. To evaluate such ''positive'' patch test reactions, 77 female (mea n age: 44 years) and 23 male eczema patients (mean age: 46 years) were prospectively patch tested with freshly prepared olive oil. Tests wer e performed openly (including ROAT) as well as using A1-tests(R) and F inn Chambers(R) on Scanpor(R). 5 patients (2 male) showed ''positive'' test reactions (all patients at the A1-test(R) site, 3 at the Finn Ch amber(R) site, 1 with ROAT). In only 1 patient could the reaction be c lassified as probably allergic, in contrast to previous reports. In co nclusion, olive oil is very weakly irritant in general, but bears rele vant irritant capacity when applied under occlusive conditions. Theref ore, olive oil appears to be less than suitable for the topical therap y of patients with venous insufficiency and associated eczema of the l ower extremities. (C) Munksgaard, 1997.