Contact urticaria from aminophenazone

such as fats, sterols, amino acids, polysaccharides, vitamins etc (5). The results obtained in our patient suggest the following considerations and lay the basis for further research into similar patients. (a) Contamination of the wax by propolis or even the presence of the same substance in both renders even contact with the wax hazardous for bee-keepers sensitized to the resin. (b) Cross sensitivity to propolis and balsam of Peru, an allergen with a high % of positive reactions, especially in cosmetics, seems to indicate that the use of propolis in cosmetics should be discouraged. (c) The sensitizing potential of propolis seems to derive from allergens naturally present in resinous vegetable material (cf the positive reaction to the alcoholic extract of poplar). (d) It was not confirmed that cinnamic acid is the principal allergen of propolis, in agreement with Bunney (3), but in disagreement with Rothenborg (2). (e) From our research we can deduce that the bees in our region collect resinous material mainly from poplar trees. (f) Further research is necessary to isolate the sensitizing components of propolis. They may not even be related to the cosmetic and pharmacological properties of products, rendering the use of propolis, more and more common in cosmetics, safer (6-8).