Shellac

Generic name: Laccifer Lacca
Brand names: Gommelaque, Lac, Lacca, Shellac

Usage of Shellac

Gangrene

Clinical data

A 1-year prospective, randomized, controlled trial was conducted to determine the ability of shellac to prevent infection and progression of dry gangrene to wet gangrene in 26 patients with type 2 diabetes. The patients presented with peripheral dry, well-demarcated gangrene in their feet and were awaiting nonsurgical autoamputation because of contraindications to revascularization or surgery, limited life expectancy, and/or refusal of surgical amputation. Compared to conventional treatment with 10% povidone-iodine, the slightly lower rate of surgical amputation in the shellac group (46.2% vs 60%) was not statistically significant. None of the patients in the shellac group developed an allergic reaction.(Alzahrani 2013)

Other uses

Animal data

In a study of rats, shellac included with a high fat diet was found to prevent increases in body weight and was associated with a reduction in serum leptin levels compared to the group only receiving a high fat diet (P<0.05 for both comparisons). Shellac was also associated with a reduction in triglyceride levels and increase in high-density lipoprotein levels (P<0.05 for both comparisons).(Poorassar 2020)

Clinical data

A randomized double-blind, controlled, clinical study evaluated the efficiency of shellac in reducing dentin hypersensitivity, which appeared to be as effective as the control agents tested.(Hoang-Dao 2009)

Shellac side effects

Allergy and contact dermatitis, including eyelid dermatitis, have been reported.(Das 2011, Huang 2021, Schalock 2020, Veverka 2018, Warshaw 2021)

Several cases of allergic contact dermatitis or eczema of the eyelids in women using mascara (Great Lash, Diorshow) have been documented with confirmed positive sensitivity to shellac through breakdown analysis of the product ingredients.(Gallo 2005, Le Coz 2002)

A case involving a patient with an allergy to shellac experienced an allergic reaction after getting a tattoo with black ink. Shellac is often used as a binding agent in black inks used for tattoos.(Gonzalez-Villanueva 2016)

Five cases of cheilitis resulting from use of a lip product containing shellac has been reported.(Orton 2001)

A case of allergic contact dermatitis due to a shellac-containing hairspray was reported in a female with frontal fibrosing alopecia.(Navarro-Trivino 2022)

Before taking Shellac

Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

How to use Shellac

There is no clinical evidence to support specific doses of shellac for therapeutic purposes.

Warnings

Studies suggest cytotoxicity is low.(Lu 2014) Shellac NF is food grade and is listed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA.(CFR 2022)

What other drugs will affect Shellac

None well documented.

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