Lanolin: The 2023 American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year

Abstract

In 2023, lanolin was named the American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year. Despite its widespread use in personal care products and industrial goods, lanolin is thought to be a rare sensitizer in patients with healthy skin; however, those with chronic inflammatory skin conditions are at a higher risk for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to lanolin. The proper patch test formulation for lanolin is a source of contention. In this article, we discuss ACD to lanolin with a focus on its paradoxical nature and the subtleties to consider when patch testing to this controversial allergen.