Vitamin E refers to a family of compounds that function as lipid-soluble
antioxidants capable of preventing lipid peroxidation. Naturally occurring forms of
vitamin E include tocopherols and tocotrienols. The form of vitamin E most studied is
natural alpha-tocopherol, which is the form more adapted for humanorganism
requirements. It is possible to distinguish two isomers, the D-alpha tocopherol, the
natural form and the synthetic form of vitamin E, DL-alpha-tocopherol, which has
allowed the synthesis of various esters like the alpha-tocopheryl acetate, succinate,
nicotinate and many others to increase vitamin E hydrosolubilty and its penetration
throughthe skin in cosmetic applications as antioxidant and anti-aging agent.
Consecutively, allergic contact dermatitis represents the most common form of
hypersensitivity induced by vitamin E and its derivatives and vitamin E is the third
most frequent contact allergen found in moisturizers. Despite the first cases of contact
allergy to vitamin E were described in the 60ies, concentrations, and vehicles for the
diagnostic patch tets to vitamin E are very far from being well standardized.
Keywords: Allergic Contact Dermatitis, Contact Urticaria, Delayed-type
Reaction, Patch Tests, Repeated Open Application Test, Skin Tests, Tocopherols,
Tocopherol Acetate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Tocopheryl
Nicotinate, Vitamin E.