Clear Skin? Maybe, Maybe Not. Risk of Death? You Decide.
Through market research in online discussion boards, I have found that adolescents are recommending to each other to use face wash containing salicylic acid as a body wash to control 'body acne'. In addition, many cosmetic companies have body wash products containing 2% salicylic acid to control 'body acne'. Most often, pimples on the arms and legs are a common condition called 'keratosis pilaris'. It is very common, 50 to 80% of adolescents have this benign condition. The big question: IS 2% SALICYLIC ACID SAFE WHEN USED IN A BODY WASH?
According to the International Programme on Chemical Safety[1], salicylic acid is a form of aspirin and is readily dermally absorbed. There is a strong connection to a number of health risks, including death, from the use of products containing salicylic acid. One of the risks of choosing to use these products is Reye's Syndrome. Reye's Syndrome can kill a person or leave them disabled for the rest of their life. Another risk of choosing to use these products is aspirin-induced asthma. Asthma attacks can kill a person. Another risk is symptoms of aspirin sensitivity. The result of an allergic reaction to aspirin can be death. Yet another risk is increased risk of skin cancer from increased sensitivity to UV sunlight. Skin cancer can be fatal.
Dermal absorption of a face wash containing 2% salicylic acid is approximately 1/3 of a baby aspirin. One baby aspirin contains 80 to 100 mg of aspirin. So, the dermal absorption from using 2% salicylic acid only on the face is approximately 26 - 33 mg of aspirin. It is apparent, without measurements, that the face is less than 10% of the skin surface of the body. A body wash containing 2% salicylic acid may allow dermal absorption the equivalent of well over 260 - 330 mg of aspirin. Half of the adult dose of 650 mg. This is an extremely conservative estimate. Different areas of skin on the body have different absorption rates based on skin thickness, pore size and vascular structure.
There is a very strong connection of aspirin and salicylate-containing medications to Reye's Syndrome (RS). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke[2], "It affects all organs of the body but is most harmful to the brain and the liver--causing an acute increase of pressure within the brain and, often, massive accumulations of fat in the liver and other organs. RS is often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, drug overdose, poisoning, sudden infant death syndrome, or psychiatric illness. Symptoms of RS include persistent or recurrent vomiting, listlessness, personality changes such as irritability or combativeness, disorientation or confusion, delirium, convulsions, and loss of consciousness." As many as 95% of cases of Reye's Syndrome have been connected to aspirin and salicylate-containing medications. There is no cure for RS. Some people recover completely, some are left severely disabled and require a lifetime of health care management and some people die.
There is evidence that aspirin and salicylate-containing products increase asthma symptoms, including asthma attacks. There is also evidence that even if you have never had asthma before, salicylate-containing products can induce asthma symptoms. According to an article published by The American Academy of Family Physicians[3], the connection to aspirin induced asthma symptoms, including asthma attacks, can occur at ingestion of only 80 mg of aspirin or other salicylate-containing medications. Symptoms of aspirin-induced asthma can occur from 30 minutes to three hours after ingestion, or in this case, dermal absorption of aspirin or salicylate-containing medications. Considering the high and growing rate of asthma in the US population, along with increased frequency of death from asthma, consumers who have asthma should immediately be made aware of the risk of death from choosing to use body wash products containing salicylic acid.
According to a study in the Archives of Dermatology[4], as much as 1% of the population or 3 million consumers are aspirin sensitive. Many, if not most, consumers do not even know they are aspirin sensitive because they have never had aspirin. According to a patient handout provided by JAMA[5], "Symptoms of aspirin sensitivity include: itchy and watery eyes, itchy rashes, nasal congestion, hives, worsening asthma, rashes around the mouth, cough and wheezing, and anaphylaxis - a severe, potentially fatal reaction including hives, difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure; fortunately rare in aspirin sensitivity."
According to the SHADE Foundation[6], salicylic acid increases UV absorption leading to an increased risk of sunburn and damage to the skin with the resulting increased risk of skin cancer. The SHADE Foundation recommends a sun block, not sun 'screen', product with an SPF of 30 when using products containing salicylic acid. The FDA[7] also states that sun protection be used while using products containing salicylic acid and to avoid prolonged sun exposure for 5 days after discontinuing their use. This warning is not present on most body wash products that contain salicylic acid.
Considering the potential risk of Reye's Syndrome, asthma attacks, allergic reaction to aspirin, and solar sensitivity - each with the potential risk of death, you may choose not to use body wash products that contain salicylic acid. You may want to consider recommending this article to a friend so they can make an informed choice regarding the risks and perceived benefits of these products.
If you would like to consider natural, less risky, alternative to control common 'body acne' or 'keratosis pilaris', please read this article, "Natural Control of Common Body Acne - Keratosis Pilaris".
Through market research in online discussion boards, I have found that adolescents are recommending to each other to use face wash containing salicylic acid as a body wash to control 'body acne'. In addition, many cosmetic companies have body wash products containing 2% salicylic acid to control 'body acne'. Most often, pimples on the arms and legs are a common condition called 'keratosis pilaris'. It is very common, 50 to 80% of adolescents have this benign condition. The big question: IS 2% SALICYLIC ACID SAFE WHEN USED IN A BODY WASH?
According to the International Programme on Chemical Safety[1], salicylic acid is a form of aspirin and is readily dermally absorbed. There is a strong connection to a number of health risks, including death, from the use of products containing salicylic acid. One of the risks of choosing to use these products is Reye's Syndrome. Reye's Syndrome can kill a person or leave them disabled for the rest of their life. Another risk of choosing to use these products is aspirin-induced asthma. Asthma attacks can kill a person. Another risk is symptoms of aspirin sensitivity. The result of an allergic reaction to aspirin can be death. Yet another risk is increased risk of skin cancer from increased sensitivity to UV sunlight. Skin cancer can be fatal.
Dermal absorption of a face wash containing 2% salicylic acid is approximately 1/3 of a baby aspirin. One baby aspirin contains 80 to 100 mg of aspirin. So, the dermal absorption from using 2% salicylic acid only on the face is approximately 26 - 33 mg of aspirin. It is apparent, without measurements, that the face is less than 10% of the skin surface of the body. A body wash containing 2% salicylic acid may allow dermal absorption the equivalent of well over 260 - 330 mg of aspirin. Half of the adult dose of 650 mg. This is an extremely conservative estimate. Different areas of skin on the body have different absorption rates based on skin thickness, pore size and vascular structure.
There is a very strong connection of aspirin and salicylate-containing medications to Reye's Syndrome (RS). According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke[2], "It affects all organs of the body but is most harmful to the brain and the liver--causing an acute increase of pressure within the brain and, often, massive accumulations of fat in the liver and other organs. RS is often misdiagnosed as encephalitis, meningitis, diabetes, drug overdose, poisoning, sudden infant death syndrome, or psychiatric illness. Symptoms of RS include persistent or recurrent vomiting, listlessness, personality changes such as irritability or combativeness, disorientation or confusion, delirium, convulsions, and loss of consciousness." As many as 95% of cases of Reye's Syndrome have been connected to aspirin and salicylate-containing medications. There is no cure for RS. Some people recover completely, some are left severely disabled and require a lifetime of health care management and some people die.
There is evidence that aspirin and salicylate-containing products increase asthma symptoms, including asthma attacks. There is also evidence that even if you have never had asthma before, salicylate-containing products can induce asthma symptoms. According to an article published by The American Academy of Family Physicians[3], the connection to aspirin induced asthma symptoms, including asthma attacks, can occur at ingestion of only 80 mg of aspirin or other salicylate-containing medications. Symptoms of aspirin-induced asthma can occur from 30 minutes to three hours after ingestion, or in this case, dermal absorption of aspirin or salicylate-containing medications. Considering the high and growing rate of asthma in the US population, along with increased frequency of death from asthma, consumers who have asthma should immediately be made aware of the risk of death from choosing to use body wash products containing salicylic acid.
According to a study in the Archives of Dermatology[4], as much as 1% of the population or 3 million consumers are aspirin sensitive. Many, if not most, consumers do not even know they are aspirin sensitive because they have never had aspirin. According to a patient handout provided by JAMA[5], "Symptoms of aspirin sensitivity include: itchy and watery eyes, itchy rashes, nasal congestion, hives, worsening asthma, rashes around the mouth, cough and wheezing, and anaphylaxis - a severe, potentially fatal reaction including hives, difficulty breathing and a drop in blood pressure; fortunately rare in aspirin sensitivity."
According to the SHADE Foundation[6], salicylic acid increases UV absorption leading to an increased risk of sunburn and damage to the skin with the resulting increased risk of skin cancer. The SHADE Foundation recommends a sun block, not sun 'screen', product with an SPF of 30 when using products containing salicylic acid. The FDA[7] also states that sun protection be used while using products containing salicylic acid and to avoid prolonged sun exposure for 5 days after discontinuing their use. This warning is not present on most body wash products that contain salicylic acid.
Considering the potential risk of Reye's Syndrome, asthma attacks, allergic reaction to aspirin, and solar sensitivity - each with the potential risk of death, you may choose not to use body wash products that contain salicylic acid. You may want to consider recommending this article to a friend so they can make an informed choice regarding the risks and perceived benefits of these products.
If you would like to consider natural, less risky, alternative to control common 'body acne' or 'keratosis pilaris', please read this article, "Natural Control of Common Body Acne - Keratosis Pilaris".
