LAUSR

To the editor: We were very interested in the article by Mir and Nisar (2018) on lipstick obsession and red urine. A link has been established between the red coloring of a young woman’s urine and lipstick, which she admits to reapplying around 20 times per day. The authors make it clear that this case is unique, and indeed no written trace of any previously published cases like this are to be found in the literature. We know, however, that there is a risk of absorption via ingestion of the ingredients in the lipstick formula. This is proven by blood lead measurements of 1 mg/dl found in certain situations, and it is important to point out that these situations were maximalized in relation to the case of the patient presented here. It would have been interesting to know the composition of the lipstick used and more particularly the pigment mixture. It must be kept in mind that the majority of pigments used in makeup are of a lipophilic nature, and it is therefore impossible to find them in an aqueous solution such as urine. It would have been interesting to know the concentration of the colorant in the urine or at least to have identified it by thin layer chromatography, for example. The patient was referred to a psychiatrist to be treated for lipstick addiction. Perhaps this is a case of pathomimia.