FDA warns of deadly allergic reactions to acne drugs

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that popular acne medications can cause rare but dangerous allergic reactions or severe irritation leading to difficulty breathing and facial swelling.

Acne medications can cause deadly allergic reactions

The agency has not been able to pinpoint exactly which ingredients are causing the allergy or whether it is a combination of different drugs used in the acne product.

Over-the-counter topical medications that may cause problems for users contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, with common brands such as Proactiv, Neutrogena, MaxClarity, Ambi, Oxy, Aveeno, Clean & Clear, and other generic and brand-name medications used as active ingredients.

Allergies and other problems have been reported with gels, cleansers, lotions, makeup remover pads, and other forms of application.

The FDA advises consumers to stop using acne products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid because they can cause laryngospasm, difficulty breathing, feeling faint, hives, itching, or swelling of the eyes, face, lips, or tongue.

To avoid this dangerous reaction, the FDA is encouraging acne product manufacturers to add new instructions to their topical products to help avoid dangerous side effects. The instructions will advise users to apply a small amount to one or two affected areas for three days, and if they do not experience any discomfort or adverse reactions, they can follow the manufacturer’s instructions as usual.

Acne is a common skin condition that involves three factors: excess oil or hormones, abnormal shedding of dead skin cells, and bacterial buildup. Clogged pores can form whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, cysts, or papules. Acne often appears on the face, neck, shoulders, and back of adolescents due to increased hormone secretion, but adults can also get the disease due to genetics.

Over the past 44 years, there have been 131 reports of severe allergic reactions to topical acne medications, and while none were fatal, 44% required hospitalization. In most of these reports, the patients experienced side effects within 24 hours of first using the product.

However, the FDA is not sure whether the reported reactions were due to benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid; and whether they lasted only a few hours or a few days.

According to Dan Tri