Are Diet Patches Safe?

Usage

The directions for the different brands of diet patches are essentially the same: Place a new patch on a clean and dry area of your skin each day. You wear each patch continuously for 24 hours before switching to a new patch. Most brands sell 30-day supplies of the diet patches and cost approximately $20 to $50. Many people place the patch on the upper parts of their arms or on their calves. Many diet patches are waterproof so that you can leave them on in the shower. Diet patch ingredients include green tea extract, fucus vesiculosus, flaxseed oil and guarana.

Claims

Manufacturers say the herbal weight-loss ingredients will be released gradually into your body in order to prolong the effects of the patch. The patches are meant to boost your metabolism and increase your energy levels. They also are said to suppress the appetite, so that you eat less. None of these claims has been substantiated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Lawsuits

There have been numerous lawsuits involving weight loss patches, including a 2004 case that involved the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC sued a diet patch manufacturer, Transdermal Products, for making allegedly false claims about the effectiveness of its weight loss patch and selling the patch with claims such as 'approved by the FDA' and 'melts away the fat.' Transdermal Products was banned from selling the diet patches in August 2007, and was ordered to pay $180,000 in damages. To protect yourself, you should research the claims made by manufacturers of weight loss patches prior to use.

Side Effects of Fucus Vesiculosus

Fucus vesiculosus is a type of brown seaweed and the most common ingredient in diet patches. Fucus vesiculosus contains iodine, which can cause irregularities in thyroid function. Stomach upset and an overactive salivary gland are also conditions that can develop from exposure.

Other Safety Issues

Other side effects from diet patches include nausea, nervousness, palpitations, stomach pain, increased urination and headaches. Users may also develop skin irritations at the site of the diet patch. Remove the patch if you notice swelling, redness or it begins to itch.