Shellac
What is it?
Shellac is a resin found in products used throughout the home. It is also edible and used as a glazing agent on candies and pills.
How can I avoid it?
You should avoid contact with this substance. Avoidance require reading labels, package inserts, Material safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and on occasion, direct communication with the manufacturer.
Skin contact with Shellac is required for it to cause a rash. Discontinuation of exposure to products containing Shellac should result in improvement and/or resolution of your dermatitis. By law, all products made in the US 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 no information ask your pharmacist or call the company directly. At work, request a material safety data sheet (MSDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure.
Uses:
- Candy glaze
- Confectioner’s glaze
- Paint primers
- Sealants
- Furniture finishes
- Denture production (restoration and moldings)
- Skin care products / cosmetics
- Hair sprays, gels, tonic and lotions
- Make-upmMoisturizers
- Lip color and gloss
- Pharmaceuticals (tablet coating, enteric coating, and binding agent)
Other names for Shellac:
- Lac resin
- Lacca
- Resins, lac or shellac
- Schellack
- Shellac, purified
- Shellac orange S-40
