Facial eschar following a single application of black salve

Abstract

A previously healthy 86-year-old male was transported by ambulance to the trauma bay of the emergency department (ED) for profuse bleeding from the left temple. The ambulance crew raised concern that the volume and force of the bleed may suggest arterial involvement. The patient reported having applied a natural topical remedy to a mole two weeks prior at the recommendation of a naturopath. The patient described progressive blackening and swelling of the area in the days following the single application of the product. After gaining control of the bleeding in the ED, the area was found to have a raised, 2 cm eschar.

Prevalence of self-medication among the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…[ 50 ] Sample sizes ranged from 1 in case reports to 31,672 in a study on the elderly in 14 European countries. [ 45 ] Of the 44 selected studies, the majority were carried out in the Americas: 7 in USA,[ 38 44 51 52 53 54 55 56 ]11 in Brazil,[ 26 27 30 34 40 47 50 57 58 59 60 61 ] and 2 in Peru. [ 28 37 ] Twelve studies were conducted in Asia.…”