On July 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent warning letters to six online retailers for selling unapproved chemical peel skin products. These products contain ingredients such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA), glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid, at concentrations with the potential to cause skin injuries when used without supervision.

The chemical peel products in the warning letters are defined as new drugs with no FDA-approved applications, introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce in violation of sections 505(a) and 301(d) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), 21 U.S.C. 355(a) and 331(d).

The retailers have fifteen working days from the date of receipt to respond to their warning letters.

On July 30, the FDA released a separate warning to consumers, advising them not to purchase or use certain chemical peel skin products without professional supervision due to risk of serious skin injuries.

“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 stated in its consumer warning.

Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events or quality problems with these or other medications.

Read the consumer warning and warning letters at U.S. Food & Drug Administration >>