Allergen
Balsam of Peru
Not actually from Peru but native to El Salvador (when it was first named, El Salvador was a Peruvian colony), Balsam of Peru makes such a regular appearance on published lists of top contact allergens that it is standard in the most elemental of patch test trays.
Balsam of Peru is a liquid from the bark of the Myroxolon balsamum tree that smells of cinnamon and vanilla because it is made up of 60-70% cinnamein and vanillin … which are themselves allergens. Cinnamein is also made up of allergens: cinnamyl cinnamate, cinnamic acid, benzoic acid and benzyl benzoate. Furthermore, Balsam of Peru contains essential oils that are similar to those found in citrus fruit peel — again, allergens.
Obviously used for its lovely scent, Balsam of Peru is also used for its mild antimicrobial properties, as flavoring, and to help prevent evaporation. It’s very common in lots of skincare, perfume, makeup, deodorants, baby products, shampoos, conditioners, hair styling products, toothpastes and oral hygiene products, insect repellants, and certain medical products like wound spray, cough medicine, dental cement, and more (make sure to tell your doctor and dentist if you are allergic to Balsam of Peru).
Balsam of Peru is also found in bottled drinks, colas, some liqueurs like vermouth, bitters, perfumed tea, coffee, and tobacco, and lots of spices like paprika, curries, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. While Balsam of Peru is less likely to cause an allergic skin reaction in food and drink, it is not impossible, especially on the hands from food prep or around the mouth when eating or drinking substances that contain it.
If you’ve patch tested positive to Balsam of Peru, you should avoid its components and cross reactants:
- Beeswax, propolis
- Muscle balms, camphor
- Coumarin
- Styrax
- Coniferyl alcohol
- Eugenol and isoeugenol
- Benzaldehyde
- Benzoin
- Benzoic acid
- Benzoate
- Benzyl benzoate
- Benzyl salicylate
- Balsam of Tolu
- Cinnamein
- Vanillin, vanilla
- Cinnamyl cinnamate
- Cinnamic acid
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Pimento
- Violets
- Hyacinths
- Roses
- Carnations
- Rosin (colophony)
If you have a history of sensitive skin…
…don’t guess! Random trial and error can cause more damage. Ask your dermatologist about a patch test.
To shop our selection of hypoallergenic products, visit vmvhypoallergenics.com. Need help? Ask us in the comments section below, or for more privacy (such as when asking us to customize recommendations for you based on your patch test results) contact us by email, or drop us a private message on Facebook.
For more:
- On the prevalence of skin allergies, see Skin Allergies Are More Common Than Ever.
- For the difference between irritant and allergic reactions, see It’s Complicated: Allergic Versus Irritant Reaction.
- For the difference between food, skin, and other types of reactions: see Skin & Food Allergies Are Not The Same Thing.
- On the differences between hypoallergenic, natural, and organic, check out Is Natural Hypoallergenic? and this video in our YouTube channel.
- To learn about the VH-Rating System and hypoallergenicity: What Is The Validated Hypoallergenic Rating System?
Main References:
Regularly published reports on the most common allergens by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group and European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (based on over 28,000 patch test results, combined), plus other studies. Remember, we are all individuals — just because an ingredient is not on the most common allergen lists does not mean you cannot be sensitive to it, or that it will not become an allergen. These references, being based on so many patch test results, are a good basis but it is always best to get a patch test yourself.
1. Warshaw, E.M., Maibach, H.I., Taylor, J.S., et al. North American contact dermatitis group patch test results: 2011-2012. Dermatitis. 2015; 26: 49-59.
2. W Uter et al. The European Baseline Series in 10 European Countries, 2005/2006–Results of the European Surveillance System on Contact Allergies (ESSCA). Contact Dermatitis 61 (1), 31-38.7 2009.
3. Wetter, DA et al. Results of patch testing to personal care product allergens in a standard series and a supplemental cosmetic series: An analysis of 945 patients from the Mayo Clinic Contact Dermatitis Group, 2000-2007. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010 Nov;63(5):789-98.
4. Verallo-Rowell VM. The validated hypoallergenic cosmetics rating system: its 30-year evolution and effect on the prevalence of cosmetic reactions. Dermatitis 2011 Apr; 22(2):80-97.
5. Ruby Pawankar et al. World Health Organization. White Book on Allergy 2011-2012 Executive Summary.
6. Misery L et al. Sensitive skin in the American population: prevalence, clinical data, and role of the dermatologist. Int J Dermatol. 2011 Aug;50(8):961-7.
7. Warshaw EM1, Maibach HI, Taylor JS, Sasseville D, DeKoven JG, Zirwas MJ, Fransway AF, Mathias CG, Zug KA, DeLeo VA, Fowler JF Jr, Marks JG, Pratt MD, Storrs FJ, Belsito DV. North American contact dermatitis group patch test results: 2011-2012.Dermatitis. 2015 Jan-Feb;26(1):49-59.
8. Warshaw, E et al. Allergic patch test reactions associated with cosmetics: Retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data from the North American Contact Dermatitis Group, 2001-2004. J AmAcadDermatol 2009;60:23-38.
9. Foliaki S et al. Antibiotic use in infancy and symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in children 6 and 7 years old: International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase III. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009 Nov;124(5):982-9.
10. Kei EF et al. Role of the gut microbiota in defining human health. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2010 Apr; 8(4): 435–454.
11. Thavagnanam S et al. A meta-analysis of the association between Caesarean section and childhood asthma. Clin Exp Allergy. 2008;38(4):629–633.
12. Marks JG, Belsito DV, DeLeo VA, et al. North American Contact Dermatitis Group patch-test results, 1998 to 2000. Am J Contact Dermat. 2003;14(2):59-62.
13. Warshaw EM, Belsito DV, Taylor JS, et al. North American Contact Dermatitis Group patch test results: 2009 to 2010. Dermatitis. 2013;24(2):50-99.
14. Verallo-Rowell V. M, Katalbas S.S. & Pangasinan J. P. Natural (Mineral, Vegetable, Coconut, Essential) Oils and Contact Dermatitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 16,51 (2016) . https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-016-0630-9.
15. Park G, Oh DS, Lee MG, Lee CE, Kim YU. 6-Shogaol, an active compound of ginger, alleviates allergic dermatitis-like skin lesions via cytokine inhibition by activating the Nrf2 pathway. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2016 Nov 1;310:51-59. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2016.08.019. Epub 2016 Aug 22. PMID: 27562088.
16. de Groot AC. Monographs in Contact Allergy, Volume II – Fragrances and Essential Oils. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group; 2019.
17. De Groot AC. Monographs in Contact Allergy Volume I. Non-Fragrance Allergens in Cosmetics (Part I and Part 2). Boca Raton, Fl, USA: CRC Press Taylor and Francis Group, 2018.
Want more great information on contact dermatitis? Check out the American Contact Dermatitis Society, Dermnet New Zealand, the Contact Dermatitis Institute, and your country’s contact dermatitis association.
Laura is our “dew”-good CEO at VMV Hypoallergenics and eldest daughter of VMV’s founding dermatologist-dermatopathologist. She has two children, Madison and Gavin, and works at VMV with her sister CC and husband Juan Pablo (Madison and Gavin frequently volunteer their “usage testing” services). In addition to saving the world’s skin, Laura is passionate about health, inclusion, cultural theory, human rights, happiness, and spreading (like a VMV cream!) goodness!