FDA Issues Warning Over Unapproved Skin Peel Products Sold at Retailers

Several online retailers, including Walmart and Amazon, have received a warning from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for selling unapproved chemical peel skin products. The products are accused of containing corrosive chemicals in high concentrations that are unsafe for use at home without medical supervision. 

The letter sent on July 25 ordered the retailers to immediately stop marketing certain chemical peel skin products that may put consumers at risk. The FDA also published a consumer warning on July 30, detailing its actions and warning the public not to buy the products. 

"FDA is warning consumers not to purchase or use certain chemical peel skin products without appropriate professional supervision due to risk of serious skin injuries," the FDA said. "The agency has not approved any chemical peel products, and consumers should only consider using chemical peel products under the supervision of a dermatologist or licensed and trained practitioner."

The FDA noted that the products in question contain ingredients such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA), glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid in high concentrations that require medical supervision. Chemical peel products are typically sold as beauty products to treat acne, discoloration, wrinkles, and collagen production. 

"Using products that contain high concentrations of these acids may lead to serious injury from chemical burns," the FDA said. "The concentration, number of applications, and length of time a chemical peel product is left on the skin all influence how deeply it can penetrate skin layers and potentially lead to chemical burns."

The agency added, “These products remove layers of skin to varying depths and may cause severe chemical burns, pain, swelling, infection, skin color changes, and disfiguring scars. These injuries may even require emergency care or specialty care from a dermatologist or surgeon."

The retailers have 15 working days to respond to the FDA warning letters.