FDA Finds Bacteria In Clarcon's Skin Products

By Margarita Nahapetyan

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Consumer Reports have sent their warnings to consumers not to use any skin products made by Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc., because of high levels of disease-causing bacteria found during the most recent inspection.

"Consumers should not use any Clarcon products and should throw these products away in household refuse," states an FDA new report. According to the agency, several samples of the topical antimicrobial skin sanitizer and skin protectant products which could have been purchased over the counter, contained significantly high levels of various bacteria, including those that are linked to unsanitary conditions.

The FDA says that the results from its last inspection of the Roy, Utah-based company's facility are "particularly concerning" because the products are being sold as antimicrobial agents that are supposed to cure open wounds, damaged skin, as well as protect against a number of infectious diseases. One such product, Magic Touch, is marketed as a lotion, an antibacterial, an antibiotic, and a germicide that is "great to apply open wounds because it helps heal the skin without scars."

The Food and Drug Administration also states that the inspection revealed that Clarcon's over-the-counter products in some cases even caused damage to skin and resulted in tissue infections, which in severe cases require surgical involvement.

According to the FDA, consumers are recommended to dispose of the products including: Citrushield Lotion, Dermasentials, DermaBarrier, Dermassentials by Clarcon Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer, Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment, Skin Shield Restaurant, Skin Shield Industrial, Skin Shield Beauty Salon Lotion, Total Skin Care Beauty and Total Skin Care Work.

Clarcon's products are designed to be primarily used in industrial, janitorial, restaurant, and health care facilities. If anyone has bought a Clarcon product for personal or home use, the FDA strongly recommends not to use it, throw it away, and report any subsequent side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program.

Bill Markham, chief executive officer and co-owner of Clarcon, said in an interview that the company's products are withdrawn from the stores and are not sold directly to the consumers. He added that the company has never, ever, ever had a side effect or any health issue reported from the use of the products. Markham says he has testimonials about how well the skin products work and that Clarcon has destroyed its products as a precaution and is shifting production to another facility that will have "higher and more intense monitoring."

Markham concluded that Clarcon and the FDA are investigating the matter and that Clarcon's products will be back in about one month, made at the other facility that the company has contracted with.