Toothpaste allergy with intractable perioral rash in a 10-year old boy.

Allergic reactions and contact dermatitis caused by the ingredients in toothpaste have been reported. 1 Some studies have documented allergic reactions to the flavorings used, especially cinnamic aldehyde.,3 Others have reported skin reactions to the preservatives, especially sodium benzoate,4-6 and to aluminum. Still others have shown contact dermatitis caused by sodium lauryl sulfate and propylene glycol, both common ingredients in every commercial toothpaste brand, even the all-natural brands.s Allergy to toothpaste ingredients is considered rare, but its rarity might be because it is hard to diagnose. Treatment options are linked to the symptom (the rash) as opposed to the cause (the allergen). Oral antibiotics and metronidazole have been prescribed for children with perioral rash. We report here a case of an intractable perioral rash of long duration that we eventually determined to be allergy to toothpaste.