What is it?
Abietic acid is an organic acid derived from conifer (pine, fir, spruce) trees. It functions as a surfactant and emulsifying agent.

How can I avoid it?
Avoiding contact with abietic acid or rosin may be difficult because of its widespread use. Exposure can occur from many different sources.

Skin contact with abietic acid is required for it to cause a rash. Discontinuation of exposure to products containing abietic acid 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 pharmacist or retailer, or contact the company directly. At work, request a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to help identify potential sources of exposure.

Uses:
  • Adhesives
  • Balsams
  • Caulking ships
  • Component in tall oil used as a deodorizing agent in cooling fluids
  • Cosmetics
  • Dental impression materials
  • Denture adhesive powder
  • Food packaging
  • Glues
  • Inks
  • Lacquers
  • Paints
  • Paper products
  • Pine resin
  • Rosins for stringed instrument bows
  • Sealants – lacquers, varnishes, paints
  • Solder flux
  • Texturizer in making of soaps
  • Typewriting paper
  • Varnishes
  • Wart-removing products
  • Wood dust
Other names for abietic acid:
  • Abietic alcohol
  • Abietinic acid
  • Abietyl alcohol
  • Abitol
  • Dercolyte ZS
  • Dertomal 18
  • Dertophene 18
  • Foral 105
  • Granolite SG
  • Gum rosin
  • Hercolyn D
  • Methyl abietate alcohol
  • Resina terebinthinate
  • Rosin gum
  • Staybelite 10
  • Sylvic acid
  • Tall oil
  • W-W wood rosin
Potential cross-reacting/co-reacting substances:
  • Colophony
  • Hydroabietyl alcohols

How safe is it?

Hang tight. We're thinking.