I've had a lip condition dermatologist-diagnosed as chelitis for
several months. I have noticed a particular reaction to fruit skins
(especially apple), as well as a prolonged reaction to certain lip
balms that contain beeswax.

My symptoms typically consist of small open sores on the skin around
the lips (usually the corners and below) that fill and crust over with
puss. It's not a pretty sight.

Should I be concerned that a reaction to beeswax may be indicative of
a larger allergy to a bee sting? I've never been stung by a bee.

Thanks!
mike

Hi mike...

I worked managing a honey company for awhile, and would say
no. Beeswax contains a complex of contents, many of which 
have not yet been identified. Most of them are alcohols,
but there is also propolis, which contains traces of an
estrogen-like compound, and pollen. Chances are good that
your reaction is to the trace amounts of pollen in the 
beeswax.

Beeswax is produced by a gland in the worker bee that has
no relationship to the production of the stinging venom,
and allergic reactions to the wax, and the pollen in it,
are much more common than reactions to beestings.

Still, it can't hurt to get checked out. An allergic
reaction to a beesting can cause anaphylactic shock in
the very first instance, which can be life-threatening
(your throat can swell closed, making breathing very
difficult). Better to know before that first sting,
and to have a beesting first-aid kit with you.


Please do not rate this answer until you are satisfied that  
the answer cannot be improved upon by way of a dialog  
established through the "Request for Clarification" process. 

sublime1-ga


Additional information may be found from an exploration of
the links resulting from the Google search outlined below.

Searches done, via Google:

"beeswax contains" pollen
://www.google.com/search?q=%22beeswax+contains%22+pollen

---

Request for Answer Clarification by bassist695-ga on 13 Feb 2006 10:21 PST

I know this is getting off-topic, but could a reaction to trace
amounts of bee pollen explain why my lower lip would swell when eating
a (washed) apple? What about oranges?

Since your response, I have not used any products containing beeswax,
and have also quit eating clementine oranges, but I'll try
reintroducing them soon, to narrow the possibilities.

Thanks for the answer!

---

Clarification of Answer by sublime1-ga on 13 Feb 2006 12:37 PST

mike...

This really does amount to an additional question. It may
help to keep in mind that researchers receive only 75% of
the question value. But I happen to be interested in the
question, so...

Apples contain both natural wax and commercially-added wax.
The amount that is commercially added is almost undetectable.
The natural wax contains a predominance of ursolic acid, as
noted in this lengthy discussion of apple waxes titled:

'Natural Waxes on Fruits' by P. E. Kolattukudy, Institute of
Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman.
Post Harvest Pomology Newsletter, 2(2):3-7 May 1984
http://postharvest.tfrec.wsu.edu/pgDisplay.php?article=N2I2A

Commercially-added waxes are described as follows, on the
same page:

"The wax formulations used in Washington appear to be based
 either on carnauba wax or shellac or a mixture of the two.
 Carnauba wax, all imported from Brazil, is obtained from
 the leaves of carnauba palm. These leaves produce wax in
 such abundance that flailing or heating in a little water
 can yield 5-10 grams of wax from each leaf. Shellac, on
 the other hand, is an insect wax. Both of these natural
 waxes are complex mixtures of fatty materials and contain
 some of the same components found in apple wax."

The insect source of the shellac is not discussed.

Beeswax is not used to wax apples, oranges or other produce.
It would be cost-prohibitive.

Oranges are also commercially waxed to replace natural
wax removed by washing. I expect that the same types of
wax and/or shellac would be used as are used on apples.

Given the above, I would suspect that you're having a 
reaction to either carnauba, the shellac, or to the
acids contained in natural waxes as well as the fruit.

Additionally, the skin of an orange contains highly
flammable oils, to which you could be reacting.

Try this: peel off a piece of orange peel about an
inch to an inch-and-a-half long and a half inch to
three-quarters of an inch wide. Hold it lengthwise
between the thumb and forefinger of your left hand
and, while holding a lighter about a half-inch from
the middle of the outside surface of the orange peel,
squeeze the two ends of the orange peel sharply, with
the lighter lit, so that it bows out and folds in half.
You'll see a spray of a fine mist emerge from the 
outer surface of the orange peel. You'll also see
that it ignites with a vengeance! These are the oils.


Washing apples is not the best way to remove the wax,
since it's waterproof. You're better off peeling the
skin off, per this PDF file on Iowa apples from Iowa
State University:

"Always wash apples before eating. If an apple is
 waxed, it is better to peel off a thin layer of the
 skin because waxing traps pesticide residues, which
 are harmful to health."
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1863.pdf


If your reaction is severe enough, I would consider
being professionally tested for reactions to carnauba
wax, ursolic acid, citric acid, pesticides, and so on.

sublime1-ga


Searches done, via Google:

apples waxed contains
://www.google.com/search?q=apples+waxed+contains

clementine oranges skin wax
://www.google.com/search?q=clementine+oranges+skin+wax

Real-life experience is sometimes more meaningful than a response full of links.