The FDA has a current argument circulating throughout the news that warns the public of
severe allergic reactions to topical acne treatments. At Skintherapy Acne Clinic we treat acne successfully by creating a personal program using consistent topical treatment, extractions and chemical peels. We have seen nothing but success using this regimen and would like to take a second to deconstruct this topic and talk about exactly what you should and shouldn't be taking away from the statements and arguments presented by the news and the FDA.
Please see this Boston Globe article before reading ahead.
Is there a large chance that you will have a severe & life
threatening reaction to topical acne treatments?
According to the recent Health and Wellness article for the
Boston Globe, the FDA warned the public that topical
acne treatments “containing benzoyl peroxide or
salicylic acid, have been linked to hypersensitivity reactions such as throat
tightness, difficulty breathing, feelings of faintness, and swollen eyes, face,
lips, and tongue.”
Could it be true that some folks will end up being allergic to
these topical products? Yes, and that is simply because allergies exist. People
can be allergic to many different things. Isn’t it very common to
be allergic to certain foods? I know many people who have life threatening
allergies to seafood, does this mean that all seafood should be banned or made
difficult to get? Allergic reactions to topical
acne treatments should not be considered likely, just as food allergies
are not considered likely. Yes, you could have a reaction, but in most cases
these products are extremely helpful to your skin condition rather than hurtful
to your body.
That being said, it is important to let your skin adapt to any new product that you start using. Acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can be irritating to anyone’s skin so it is smart to build up your use slowly. In most cases, a steady build up of product use results in a clear complexion and little to no irritation or reaction.
What are the other options to treat acne & do they have
possible side effects as well?
The honest truth about treating Acne is that a steady habit of
topical product use is the safest and most productive answer to clearing your
skin.
While most acne specialist do not believe in the use of
antibiotics, there are many doctors who believe in antibiotic treatment for
acne. This is unfortunate because antibiotics pose more of a risk to our health
than topical products. Please compare the below statistics:
According to the Center for Disease Control, ”Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections. Many more people die from other conditions that were complicated by an antibiotic-resistant infection.”
The above Boston Globe article, states that “the
FDA says it has received 131 reports over the past 45 years of severe reactions
to topical products that resulted in hospitalizations 44 percent of the time, but
haven’t been linked to
any deaths.”
If the FDA is researching any type of acne treatment, they should
be more concerned with acne fighting antibiotics, as
these pose a much higher risk of serious health problems and frankly, fail to
fight acne with any success in the first place.
So, should warning labels actually be considered for these
products?
Warning labels would not be hurtful, as long as they are the type
of warning that reminds folks to start out slowly with their products and build
up their skins tolerance rather than discourage them on topical acne treatments all together. It would be extremely
hurtful to cause such a hype around potential allergic reactions that those who
suffer from acne are discouraged from getting the most correct and successful
acne treatment, which is topical products.
