Risk of Death by Salicylic Acid Body Wash
Clear Skin? Maybe, Maybe Not. Risk of Death? You Decide.
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".
Sources:
1. International Programme on Chemical Safety, http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/pharm/pim642.htm
2. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/reyes_syndrome/reyes_syndrome.htm
3. The American Academy of Family Physicians, http://www.aafp.org/afp/20041015/tips/14.html
4. Archives of Dermatology, http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/139/12/1577
5. JAMA, http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZSH46323E&sub_cat=253
6. SHADE Foundation, http://www.shadefoundation.org/sunwise_sunscreen.php
7. FDA, http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-bha.html
Published by Emily Patterson
Emily is the author of Sunflower Naturals NonToxic Body Care, Sunflower Naturals Non-Toxic Cleaning Guide as well as remodeling, home improvement and natural health articles. View profile
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18 Comments
Post a CommentOkay so what I'm wondering is this. If you're saying that you "may" allow 260 - 330mg of aspirin to be absorbed if you're using a 2% body wash. So if the LD50 is 1750mg/kg. I weigh 130 lbs. Which is about 59 kg. So 1750*59=103,250. 103,250mg of aspirin would kill me. So if you are absorbing 330mg each shower I would still need 312.8x that amount to kill me.I'm not sure if you're trying to scare the #$%$ out of people, but it worked with me for a little bit. I actually took a shower about 2 hours ago using a salicylic acid shampoo as a body wash (it was 3% btw). I read your article shortly after words and freaked out. I did call my doctor. They stated that the thing I would have to worry about the most isn't my body absorbing the aspirin (I think they took the LD50 into consideration) but the fact that my skin might peal, become red, or signs/symptoms relating to that.
Oh, the ‘used safely for hundreds of years’ argument. Hundreds of years ago, did we know that aspirin derivatives were associated with internal bleeding for those who are sensitive? No. Did we know that aspirin derivatives are associated with developing Reye’s Syndrome? No. Did we know that aspirin derivatives were associated with inducing asthma attacks? No. Did we know that aspirin derivatives are absorbed through the skin? No. You go ahead and base your choices on what we knew a couple hundred years ago, and I’ll help educated people as to what we know today.
This article is incredibly sensationalistic. The risk of DYING from using a two-percent salicylic acid body wash is incredibly low, even for those who do have an aspirin sensitivity. Remember, while it may be possible to die from an allergy, this occurs only in extreme cases. If you are so allergic to something that you might die if you come into contact with it, you'll know it.
While we're on the subject, salicylic acid, and the similar chemical compound acetylsalicylic acid (the active ingredient in aspirin) have been used successfully for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years, possibly even longer. Next time, why don't you try writing about the dangers of the insidious poison, dihydrogen monoxide?
I agree that life is full of risks - most intelligent people want to avoid risks so they can enjoy living without sickness and pain. Where was the crap? Just studies. Do you wear a seatbelt? Do you look both ways before crossing the street? Do you use a condom? Truly living is living healthy - not spending time sick or in a hospital. Certain risks are avoidable - this is one of them. What's wrong with living in a way that improves your health and reduces risk by avoiding a certain chemical in a body wash - there's plenty that aren't a risk to your health.
Hi Kristin - According to the International Programme on Chemical Safety[1], aspirin induced asthma is a very real occurrence for some people who are exposed to salicylic acid. This occurs in people who did not previously have asthma, but develop asthma after exposure to high amounts of salicylic acid. All of the information that I used was the sources quoted. Please read the sources before misinforming the public or suggesting that the author did not research their work. I know all about asthma, 16 years of research to keep my son symptom-free. For more asthma information and studies showing causes of asthma http://www.sunflowernaturals.com/article_asthma.shtml
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A simple Google of this and other claims in your article will educate you so that you can accurately inform your readers.
:)
Kristen, 20 years acute medical care/ICU Registered nurse
Interesting blog. Good that you inform the public that salicylic acid may cause reaction in people allergic to aspirin.
However, your article suggests that salicylic acid CAUSES asthma ("aspiring induced asthma") This is untrue. If you have asthma... you will have it whether you take aspirin or not.
Asthma is a sensitivity HYPERreaction. For instance, I have hay fever... I am allergic to grass. When I come in contact with freshly cut grass, I get itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing. My husband has asthma and is also allergic to grass. When he comes in contact with with freshly cut grass, his lung tubes (called bronchial tubes) spasm nearly closing off and the lining of his tubes become inflamed and the diameter of the tube narrows... causing it very difficult to get air into the lungs. He is also allergic to aspirin and the same symptoms will occur.
However his sister also has asthma but no allergy to aspirin... she can take aspirin without any trouble.
A simple Google of this
There are usually less than forty cases of Reye's Syndrome per year, 90% of which occur in children younger than 15. Almost all of them have suffered from a viral infection immediately prior.
Frankly, you've got a greater chance of being struck by lightning while being bitten by a shark than of getting Reye's Syndrome from using body wash. To suggest otherwise is frankly disingenuous.
The baby aspirin amount is when it's scrub used ONLY on the face. What is the absorption for the ENTIRE BODY? The references are both within the article as LINKS as well as at the end of the article, references section with LINKS. Not too difficutlt to CLICK on to access the references I used for the article.
Hi Emily. First off, salicylic acid is NOT aspirin -- acetylsalicylic acid is. Close though. Secondly, I agree with one of the posters that taking a daily dose of baby aspirin or even a higher dose is medically safe and often recommended but don't agree with the fact that people should self treat their acne and use the salicylic products all over their body. If people are having extreme acne problems, they should go see a dermatologist. That being said, I'm intrigued by the summary of the findings you provided. Can you provide the references that you got your information from? I'd like to look them over. Thanks.