A Case of allergic contact dermatitis to propolis on the lips and oral mucosa

Abstract

Propolis, also known as 'bee glue' is a wax-like resinous material that is collected from trees by honeybees to protect and repair their hives. This compound is widely used in folk medicine and in the biocosmetic industry for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic properties. Because of its sensitizing activity, a number of cases of allergic contact dermatitis to propolis have been reported. Despite this, very few cases of allergic contact dermatitis specifically on the lips and oral mucosa have been reported thus far. We herein report a rare case of allergic contact dermatitis to propolis, presented with cheilitis and oral mucositis caused by a propolis solution that had been used for the treatment of aphthous ulcer.