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Peanut allergy and topical medicines

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

  • a number of licensed topical medicines contain peanut (arachis) oil - this is stated on the medicine ingredients
  • there is evidence that children may become sensitised to peanuts via the application of creams containing peanut oil to inflamed skin (1); it has also been shown that small amounts of peanut protein may remain despite the arachis oil having been refined (2)
  • in the UK the Committee on Safety of Medicines has recommended that (3)
    • patients with known peanut allergy should not use medicines containing peanut oil
    • patients allergic to soya should also avoid medicines containing peanut oil since there is a possible link between soya and peanut allergies

Reference:

  1. N Engl J Med. 2003 Mar 13;348(11):977-85. Epub 2003 Mar 10.
  2. Clin Exp Allergy. 1998 Jul;28(7):850-9.
  3. CMO's Update (August 2003). Department of Health, UK.

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