THE MYTH OF LANOLIN ALLERGY

Lanolin has the reputation of being an important contact sensitizer. T he market place abounds with products that are labeled ''lanolin free' '. In fact, lanolin is at most a weak contact allergen. The supposed h azards of sensitization to lanolin products are a resultant of faulty science and failure to appreciate the limitations of patch testing. La nolin allergy is a myth created mainly by overzealous professional pat ch testers. No one has succeeded in sensitizing animals or humans to l anolin or wool wax alcohols. Most of the case reports are false positi ves, in association with the angry back syndrome.