A drug safety alert has been issued by the U.S Health Authorities concerning over the counter topical acne treatment products that can cause very serious hyper-sensitivity reactions.
The products are sold under a variety of brand names, including Neutrogena, Clean & Clear, Aveeno, Ambi and Oxy. The topical acne treatment products are sold in a variety of forms including gels, lotions, face washes, scrubs, solutions, cleansing pads and toners.
The potentially life-threatening allergic reactions are severe irritations which may include the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Hives
- Feeling faint and fainting
- Swelling of the eyes, face, lips and tongue
- Tightness of the throat
- Wheezing
- Itching of the face or body
Speaking about the latest risk of injury from over the counter products, Liam Moloney, Medical Injury Solicitor in Naas Co Kildare said today “should any person experience any of these hyper-sensitivity reactions emergency medical attention should be sought immediately. These dangerous reactions may occur within minutes of application but may also take place one day or even several days after initial use”.
He continued “these serious reactions are not the same as local skin irritations that can sometimes be experienced following produce application and which may cause redness, burning, dryness, itching or pealing.”
Mr Moloney added “it is important that consumers are aware of the risks of injury from these products as there is currently no mention of the possibility of these very severe allergic reactions on the product labels”
