There’s a skin cream sitting in a lot of bathrooms and medicine cabinets across the country right now that health officials are saying needs to go straight into the trash. The FDA just announced a recall on MG217 Multi-Symptom Treatment Cream & Skin Protectant Eczema Cream, and the reason behind it is serious enough that people shouldn’t wait around to act.
The company behind the product, Pharmacal — located outside of Jackson, Wisconsin — is pulling a specific batch of this cream off the market after it tested positive for staph bacteria. Yes, the same bacteria that cause staph infections. The kind that can send someone to the hospital.
So What Exactly Got Recalled?
- The MG217 cream is used to treat eczema.
- It helps with really irritating skin conditions.
- People use this cream under the MG217 brand name.
- It works well for eczema and other skin issues.
- MG217 cream helps reduce the irritation of skin conditions.
- MG217 is the one that people turn to for relief. It helps to soothe and calm the skin.Eczema and similar skin issues are what MG217 cream is used for. The company marketed it as fast-acting and even called it safe for children and babies. It was sold all over the country, in stores and online.
But not every single tube is part of this recall. Only a specific batch is affected. Here’s what to look for if you have this product at home:
- It comes in a 6-ounce tube
- The code on the packaging is 5106
- The UPC number is 012277051067
- The lot number is 1024088 — you’ll find this printed on the crimped end of the tube, the part that’s folded and sealed at the bottom
- The expiration date reads November 2026
If your tube checks all those boxes, stop using it. Don’t keep it, you won’t need it. Don’t try to use it all up; get rid of it
How Can Staph in a Skin Cream Harm You?
Staph — the short name for a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus — is more common than most people realize. The CDC says roughly one in three people already have this bacteria living in their nose or on their skin without even knowing it. For most healthy people, it causes zero problems. The issue is what happens when it gets into an open wound, a scratch, or already damaged skin. That’s when things can turn ugly fast.
For someone using eczema cream, this is a real concern. Eczema causes the skin to become cracked, dry, itchy, and irritated. That kind of damaged skin is basically an open door for bacteria to enter the body. If staph gets in through those cracks, it can cause an infection that goes way beyond just some redness.
A staph infection that gets out of control can travel through the bloodstream.At that point, it is not a skin problem anymore. The skin problem can cause sepsis. Sepsis is when the body’s response to an infection starts damaging the body’s organs. It can lead to pneumonia. In really serious cases, it’s been linked to heart failure and stroke.
This is why the FDA used the words “life-threatening” when announcing the recall. That’s not language they throw around lightly.
Who Needs to Be the Most Careful?
Honestly, anyone using the recalled cream should take this seriously. But there are certain people who face a much bigger risk than others.
People with weak immune systems are at the top of that list. That includes older adults, very young children, and anyone dealing with a health condition that affects how well their body can fight off infection. People going through chemotherapy, for example, or those recovering from surgery.
People who have skin that is damaged are also in a spot. If you are looking for a cream to help with eczema, that means your skin is probably already red and sore. Open wounds, burns, scrapes, and skin rashes — all of these make it easier for bacteria to get inside the body.
The one piece of somewhat good news here is that Pharmacal says they haven’t received any reports of injuries or severe reactions from anyone who used the recalled product. No one has called in sick, no lawsuits, nothing like that — at least not yet. But that doesn’t mean the risk isn’t real. It just means people need to act before something happens.
What Should You Actually Do?
First, go check if you have this cream. Look at the lot number on the bottom of the tube. If it matches what’s listed above, here’s what to do:
Pay attention to your skin. Check how it looks and feels. If you have been using this cream. You see something that looks like a pimple or a boil, or if your skin is red or swollen, that’s not good. If your skin feels warm and tender, especially if it is broken or irritated, that could be a problem. It could be a sign that a staph infection is starting on your skin. Do not ignore it. Your skin is important. If you notice any of these things, like redness or swelling on your skin, you should do something about it. Staph infections can be newsworthy for your skin.
The Bottom Line
This cream is supposed to help people who have skin that hurts and itches.. It has bad bacteria in it. That is really scary. It is especially scary for parents who put this cream on their children. The thought of using something with bacteria on kids is very frightening. Parents want their kids to be safe, and this cream is not safe. The cream is meant to make painful and itchy skin feel better. It has bad things in it that can hurt people like kids, with painful and itchy skin. But the recall happened for a reason — so people can get rid of the product before anyone gets seriously hurt.
If this cream is somewhere in your home, take two minutes right now to check the lot number. If it matches, toss it.
Look out for your family. When the FDA says to throw something away, trust them. They know best.
