The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers against the purchase and use of certain chemical peel skin products without first consulting a professional due to the risk of serious injuries.
The FDA notes that they have not approved any chemical peel products. They add that many of these products, which are marketed for conditions like acne, discoloration, wrinkles, and collagen production, contain ingredients such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA), glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and lactic acid in varying concentrations that are too high to be used safely at home. It is therefore recommended that they are used under the guidance of a dermatologist or other licensed and trained practitioner.
The FDA warns that products containing high concentrations of these ingredients may cause serious injury. They can lead to the removal of skin layers and may cause chemical burns, pain, swelling, infection, skin color changes, and disfiguring scars. Many factors must be considered, including how many times consumers are applying the product and the length of time left on the skin. All these factors influence how much and how deeply it can penetrate and damage the layers of the skin. In some cases, these injuries could also lead to the need for emergency care or specialized care from a dermatologist.
The FDA has issued warning letters to a number of companies (table below from FDA website) and are encouraging health care providers and consumers to report any adverse effects to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
| Company | Product(s) |
| Amazon.com | MÔOYAM TCA 50% Skin Beauty Solutions lactic acid skin peel 90% |
| Walmart, Inc. | Skin Beauty Solutions lactic acid skin peel 90% |
| Isis.Gold | TCA 100% Trichloroacetic Acid Whitening SA Peels |
| Matte Beauty | TCA 100% Skin Peel Lactic Acid 90% Salicylic Acid 80% Glycolic Acid 70% Modified Jessner Solution Peel 14% |
| Skin Beauty Solutions | LACTIC Acid Skin Chemical Peel 90% GLYCOLIC ACID Skin Cosmetic Grade Peel 70% Combination Peel GLYCOLIC 35% LACTIC 45% SALICYLIC ACID Skin Chemical Peel 30% |
| Repare Skinscare | 100% TCA Skin Peel” and “GLYCOLIC ACID 70% |
