These have included instances of permanent disfigurement and cancer progression. Fifteen of these cases were reported within the past five years. The FDA has identified 24 cases of adverse events (bad side effects) associated with black salve.

The sellers often state to expect a thick, dry scab on the skin.Ĭonsumers Have Reported Harmful Side Effects to the FDA Products with instructions to expect burning, pain, or scar formation at the application site.Salve products that claim to cure or treat cancer, remove moles or warts, or treat other skin conditions.Products that contain any of these ingredients: sanguinarine, Sanguinaria canadensis, bloodroot, and zinc chloride.The products come in many forms including salves, pastes, creams, and poultices. Salve products with the following names: black salve, drawing salve, red salve, Cansema, bloodroot, Indian Herb, Hawk Dok Natural Salve, Black Drawing Ointment, and many others.Ng adds that if you’re not sure if a product is, in fact, a dangerous black salve product, you can look for these (active and/or inactive) ingredients: sanguinarine, Sanguinaria canadensis, bloodroot, and zinc chloride, any of which signal that it is a harmful product and you should not use it. In some instances, the corrosive ingredients are listed as “inactive” ingredients. In some cases, corrosive salves may be marketed as natural or homeopathic products. The products come in many forms including salve, paste, cream and poultice (soft, moist material applied to wound). It is also sold under such names as Skinprov, drawing salve, red salve, Cansema, bloodroot, Indian Herb, Hawk Dok Natural Salve, Black Drawing Ointment, and many others. This patient suffered the loss of his left naris (nostril) and surrounding tissue as a result of using corrosive black salve ointment to treat suspected melanoma. According to Cynthia Ng in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, “Consumers need to know that ‘black salve’ is an informal term and not the only name used for this product.” How Do You Know If It’s A Corrosive Salve?Ĭorrosive salve products include products such as black salve. In addition, these salves can destroy the top layer of skin while leaving cancer behind in the deeper layers, where the cancer may continue to grow. Using these products can result in permanent scarring and may even result in the need for reconstructive (plastic) surgery. The ingredients in these products destroy cancerous and healthy skin equally. Many salve products that contain corrosive ingredients claim to draw out only the cancer, leaving healthy skin untouched. Either way, the result is damaging, painful and can result in permanent disfigurement (scarring). They act either directly, by chemically destroying the tissue (oxidation), or indirectly by causing inflammation.

Some salve products contain corrosive ingredients, highly reactive substances that injure living tissue. Report Adverse Events What Are Salves that Contain Corrosive Ingredients? Furthermore, using salve products such as black salve for serious conditions like skin cancer can result in delayed cancer diagnosis and cancer progression.

Specifically, the FDA is warning consumers not to use any salves or other topically applied products that list any of the following potentially dangerous ingredients: sanguinarine, Sanguinaria canadensis, or bloodroot, alone or in combination with zinc chloride.Īlthough not all salves are dangerous, topically applied products with the above ingredients can destroy the skin and result in permanent disfigurement, tissue necrosis (death of cells in living tissue), and can result in infection. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat or cure any skin condition, particularly not skin cancer. Salve products containing corrosive ingredients, including black salve, are dangerous and are not approved by the U.S. You may have seen websites selling certain salves or creams (commonly known as “black salve”) claiming to treat or cure cancer, boils, moles and skin tags (benign, or non-cancerous, growths of the skin).

Pictures of skin tags in armpit