Carvone

Carvone is a chemical found in essential oils, especially in oils from spearmint, caraway, and dill. It is used as a fragrance, masking scent, and flavoring in a number of cosmetic and oral hygiene products, as well as some foods.

Skin contact with carvone is required for it to cause a rash. Discontinuation of exposure to products containing carvone should result in improvement and/or resolution of your dermatitis. By law, all products made in the U.S. for topical use have the ingredients listed either on the product package or the box that contains it, so check the labeling of your skin care products for this ingredient. If there is not enough information, ask your retailer or contact the company directly. At work, request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure.

The avoidance of fragrances and flavoring agents such as carvone can be difficult, since so many everyday products contain these substances. Individuals with sensitivity to carvone should use only fragrance-free cosmetic and household products. “Unscented” products may contain low levels of a fragrance to cover up an undesirable odor, so also should be avoided. Products labeled as “hypoallergenic” do not assure that the product is truly free of fragrance.

Direct contact with foods or products containing carvone may cause symptoms, including burning, irritation, and redness. Direct contact may occur on the skin, lips, or mouth. Although it is rare, ingestion of foods that contain carvone could cause generalized symptoms such as itching or redness of the skin. If your provider has diagnosed you with an oral or lip allergy to carvone, you should avoid eating foods with carvone added to them.