What Is Resorcinol?

Written By Jennifer Raskin / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

For those suffering from acne and embarrassing breakouts, perhaps you’ve heard of Resorcinol. This topical medication is used for acne, eczema, psoriasis, and many other skin disorders. It can even be prescribed to help with warts, corns, and calluses.

This cream works to remove hard or rough skin. Because of its strength, it has been called into question for safety reasons. It has many side effects that might make it more trouble than it’s worth in clearing up problematic skin.

The Problem with Resorcinol

Resorcinol is prescribed in a topical cream to help with skin conditions, however, it leads to skin redness, peeling, irritation, and inflammation. Additionally, Resorcinol is toxic in higher doses. It can disrupt the central nervous system functions as well as thyroid function in the endocrine system.

While the topical cream for skin conditions has been discontinued, Resorcinol is still found in hair dyes, shampoos, hair lotions, and peels. This element is used in the rubber industry and manufacturing of chemicals which means it’s not the best idea to use it on your body.

It stands to reason that the more you use products that contain Resorcinol, the more damage it can pose to your health. In permanent hair dyes for example, Resorcinol reacts with the developer or peroxide, bonding the dye to your hair. The concentrations in this type of situation may be up to five percent.

For skin treatments, the content is far less at about two percent. However, the skin is usually damaged when Resorcinol is applied which means more of it can enter your body and cause harm.

How to Avoid Resorcinol

When an item is restricted in other countries, it tends to cause great alarm. Japan restricts its use in all cosmetics while the EU limits the concentrations and uses warning labels. In the U.S., the exposure to Resorcinol is regulated for workers in some manufacturing settings but not in salons.

Hair stylists, colorists, and those working in salons are at the greatest risk. But if you get your hair dyed regularly, you should be on the lookout for Resorcinol too. On the labels of your products, check for Resorcinol, 1,3-benzenediol, m-dihydroxyphenol, 1,3-dihydroxybenzene(m-hydroxybenze), or resorcin to make sure you avoid it as much as possible. Whether in hair care products or in box-kit hair dyes, limiting your exposure can prevent future health hardships.

As for treating acne and other skin conditions, there are much less dangerous ways to clear up skin. You can ask your dermatologist about safer options that will work for you.

Looking for 100% chemical-free, all-natural nourishing face and body oils? Check out Earth & Elm Nourishing Face Oil and Earth & Elm Nourishing Body Oil. Subscribe to our Trusted Health Club newsletter for more information about natural living tips, natural health, oral health and skincare. If you are looking for more health resources make sure to check out the Trusted Health Resources list. 

Written By:

Jennifer Raskin is a freelance writer, wife and mom that loves cold weather despite her location in Florida, cooking, reading, watching ‘80s movies, weight-lifting, and wine tasting.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by Arina Krasnikova from Pexels