Consumers need to be cautious when it comes to diet pills. If you’re wondering why you need to be wary of some of these so-called miracle pills, consider a recent article published by the Daily Mail titled “Toxic ‘diet pills’ that killed Eloise can be bought on the web for just 70p: Unscrupulous dealers offering next-day delivery and ‘try before you buy’ samples.”
Claire Duffin and Emily Kent Smith of the Daily Mail write, “One company claimed to be based in the UK. It had a sale on, with 100 pills for £70. It also offered to send six free tablets to try. Miss Parry, from Shrewsbury, died after taking eight – six more than the fatal dose. She ‘burned up from within’, her mother said. DNP, a yellow organic compound, is used to suppress plant growth and as an explosive. It was popular as a diet aid in the 1930s but was banned after it was found to be poisonous. Despite this, it has become popular again, particularly among bodybuilders. It works by causing the body to overheat, accelerating the metabolism so it burns more fat. However it also causes dehydration, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating and a rapid or irregular heartbeat and can lead to coma and death. Long-term use can lead to the development of cataracts and skin lesions and may cause damage to the heart and nervous system. There is also evidence that DNP causes cancer and increases the risk of birth defects. It is illegal to sell for human consumption, but sellers get around this by claiming to sell it as a pesticide or dye, which is not illegal, or with disclaimers.”
At the office of Dr. Rex E. Moulton-Barrett, M.D., we have a particular interest in the long-term effect of skin lesions. Dr. Moulton-Barrett offers reconstruction surgery for skin cancers and lesions. Specifically, the surgery removes and repairs damaged or unnatural changes in the skin. These include moles that change size, color or shape; moles that bleed; a black or blue-black spot on the face or neck; sores that do not heal; or a pale patch of skin that grows. Surgical methods include excision with or without stitches, excision with cauterization, and laser removal. There are some cases where more than one procedure may be necessary to reconstruct the area where the skin lesion was removed.
If you’re considering reconstructive surgery for skin lesions, contact Dr. Moulton-Barrett for a consultation.