Chemical peels cardiac arrhythmias

The most important potential complication of phenol-based peels is cardiotoxicity. Phenol is directly toxic to myocardium. Studies in rats have shown a decrease in myocardial contraction and in electrical activity following systemic exposure to phenol [i6]. Since fatal doses ranged widely in these studies, it seems that individual sensitivity of myocardium to this chemical exists. In humans neither sex/age nor previous cardiac history/blood phenol levels are accurate predictors for cardiac arrhythmia susceptibility [17]. 

Other phenol-containing products are used as chemical peels to remove skin lesions, and in the treatment of chronic pain or spasticity. These uses have occasionally been associated with adverse outcomes, like cardiac arrhythmias, that have been seen in both adults and children. 

Phenol chemical peels carry a risk of systanic poisoning such that patients with pre-existing cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease should be excluded from receiving this type of treatment [278], Cardiac arrhythmias have been reported in patients receiving phenol chemical peels [278, 280, 284, 338], Phenol is also a hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic substance [280],... 

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