Our team of professionals and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well-being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics, which can be found on the side of each page. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you.
As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.
- Acne and rosacea
- Bumps and growths
- Color problems
- Contagious skin diseases
- Cosmetic treatments
- Dry / sweaty skin
- Eczema / dermatitis
- Hair and scalp problems
- Itchy skin
- Painful skin / joints
- Rashes
- Scaly skin
- Skin cancer
- Skin, hair, and nail care
- Skin care
- How to Apply Sunscreen
- How to Shave
- Skin Self-Exam: How to Do
- Face Washing 101
- How to Apply Self-Tanner
- Get the most from your skin care products
- Dry skin relief
- Preventing skin conditions in athletes
- How to care for tattooed skin
- How to care for pierced ears
- How to Treat Diaper Rash
- Skin Care on a Budget
- How to Treat Boils and Styes
- How to Treat Dandruff
- How to Treat Shingles
- How to Treat Cold Sores
- How to Treat Hives in Children
- Wrinkle Remedies
- Hair care / hair loss
- Injured skin
- Nail care
- Skin care
- Other conditions
- Videos
A few people who used a non-prescription acne product have developed a serious allergic reaction. Between 1969 and January 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received 131 such reports. That makes this reaction extremely rare.
All products named in the reports contained either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. The FDA says one of these acne-fighting ingredients may have caused the allergic reaction. It’s also possible that another ingredient caused the reaction.
To protect your health, dermatologists recommend the following:
Seek immediate medical care
You may need immediate medical care if you develop any of the following — regardless of whether you’re using an acne product:
- Difficulty breathing
- Tightness in your throat
- Feeling faint or lightheaded
- Swollen eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- Hives or intense itching (common and sometimes requires immediate medical care)
These may indicate a serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
When to see a dermatologist
You will find it helpful to see a dermatologist if you:
- Plan to use a non-prescription acne product for the first time — and worry about having a possible allergic reaction.
- Have had a serious allergic reaction (medicine or product).
At the beginning of this appointment, be sure to explain your concerns. Your dermatologist can talk with you about other options for treating acne. During the appointment, you can also learn how to self-test acne products at home. This will tell you whether your skin reacts. If your skin reacts, you could develop an allergic reaction.
Serious allergic reaction is extremely rare
Few people develop this serious allergic reaction. If you’ve been using non-prescription acne products and never developed a skin reaction, it’s unlikely that you will develop a severe reaction.
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