What was recalled
In late September 2018, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a significant recall involving a popular over-the-counter topical pain reliever manufactured by Desert Harvest. The specific product at the center of this safety notice is the Reléveum Skin Repair Cream. This isn't a minor administrative error or a labeling typo; it is a tangible, physical issue with the container itself that affects every unit of this particular batch currently in circulation or potentially still sitting on pharmacy shelves. To help you identify whether your bathroom cabinet contains one of these affected items, we need to look at exactly what was sold and how it was packaged.
The recalled product is a topical cream designed for skin repair, with lidocaine (4%) listed as its active ingredient. While the cream itself functions as intended, the packaging failed to meet federal safety standards. The bottles in question are transparent green, allowing you to see the remaining product inside. They feature a white pump dispenser cap on top and a distinctive label that uses a tan-to-white gradient design. Printed clearly on the front of this label is the brand name "Desert Harvest" followed immediately by "Reléveum."
If you have this cream in your home, check the bottom of the bottle carefully. The recall applies specifically to bottles containing either 4 ounces or 8 ounces of the cream. Crucially, you must look for the date code "D02N5" printed directly above the barcode on the label. If your bottle has this specific date code, it is part of the recalled lot. It is important to note that the CPSC recall does not specify the exact number of units involved in this batch, nor does it list the specific retailers or geographic regions where these bottles were originally sold. However, because this was a consumer product distributed widely, it is possible that these items are still in homes across the country, having been purchased at various drugstores, supermarkets, or online retailers prior to the recall date of September 25, 2018.
Understanding what you have is the first step toward resolving this issue safely. The lack of child-resistant closure on these bottles is the primary concern, but knowing the exact visual identifiers—the green transparent bottle, the white pump cap, the tan/white label, and the D02N5 date code—will help you quickly determine if your product needs attention.
The hazard, explained
To understand why this recall matters, it is important to look past the product’s soothing promise and focus on the mechanical failure at play: the bottle’s closure system. The Desert Harvest Reléveum Skin Repair Cream was distributed in transparent green bottles equipped with white pump dispensers. While these pumps are designed for adult convenience, they do not meet the rigorous standards set by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA). This federal law requires that certain hazardous household chemicals be packaged in containers that are difficult for young children—specifically those under five years old—to open within a reasonable amount of time. The recalled bottles lack the specialized child-resistant locking mechanism, such as push-and-turn caps or complex latches, which are engineered to thwart the dexterity and strength of toddlers. Essentially, the physical barrier intended to keep poison out is effectively non-existent for a curious child.
The danger arises from the specific nature of the product’s active ingredient: lidocaine at a 4% concentration. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic commonly used to relieve minor pains, itching, and irritation. While safe when applied correctly by adults, it poses a significant toxicity risk if ingested. When a child manages to access the cream through the non-compliant pump cap, they may swallow the contents directly or ingest it while mouthing their fingers after touching the dispenser. Because children have lower body weights and developing metabolic systems, even small amounts of concentrated lidocaine can lead to serious poisoning. The chemical does not merely cause a stomach ache; it can interfere with the nervous system, potentially leading to symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, seizures, or irregular heart rhythms in young victims.
This type of hazard is particularly insidious because the product itself looks and feels like something benign. The tan and white gradient label and the smooth pump mechanism do not visually scream "danger" to a child, nor do they naturally deter an adult from leaving it within easy reach. The failure here is not that the cream is inherently toxic in all contexts, but that the packaging failed to provide the necessary time-delay barrier required for high-risk substances. Without the correct closure, the risk shifts from a managed topical application to an accidental oral exposure event. The absence of reported incidents in this specific recall batch does not diminish the potential severity; it simply means no one has been harmed yet. The mechanism of injury is straightforward: inadequate packaging + accessible potent anesthetic = high risk of accidental poisoning.
Who is most at risk
When we look at this specific recall involving Desert Harvest’s Reléveum Skin Repair Cream, the primary group of concern is unmistakably young children, particularly those under the age of five. The core issue here is not that the cream itself is inherently toxic in a way that would harm an adult user when used as directed, but rather that the packaging fails to meet strict federal safety standards designed specifically for this demographic. Under normal circumstances, the active ingredient in this product is lidocaine at a 4% concentration. While lidocaine is a widely used and generally safe local anesthetic for minor skin irritations, burns, or insect bites when applied topically by adults, it becomes a significant danger if ingested by a small child. Young children are naturally curious explorers who often put their hands in their mouths or explore objects by tasting them. They lack the cognitive development to understand that a bottle labeled as a "skin repair cream" is not food or candy. If a child manages to open this non-compliant container, they may drink or swallow the contents, leading to accidental poisoning.
The vulnerability of young children in this scenario is amplified by their physical size and metabolic differences. A 4-ounce or 8-ounce bottle contains a substantial amount of medication relative to a toddler’s body weight. Even a small quantity of ingested lidocaine can lead to serious systemic effects, including drowsiness, confusion, seizures, or respiratory depression. Because the recalled bottles do not feature the required child-resistant closure, the barrier that usually prevents curious little fingers from accessing these substances is missing. This makes any household where this product is stored within reach of children—whether on a bathroom counter, in a kitchen cabinet, or in a bedroom nightstand stand—a potential hazard zone. It is important to note that while elderly individuals or those with limited dexterity might also struggle with standard child-proof caps, the specific legal and safety mandate here is driven by the need to protect the most vulnerable and impulsive users: young children.
Furthermore, the risk extends beyond just the immediate ingestion of the cream. Families who purchase over-the-counter pain relief products often keep them in common areas for easy access during emergencies. If this specific batch is mixed with other medications or kept in a cabinet alongside food items, the lack of distinctive child-resistant features increases the likelihood of accidental exposure. While no incidents have been reported to date, the absence of reported cases does not eliminate the risk; it simply means the hazard has not yet manifested in public data. The danger lies in the potential for future accidents in homes where caregivers may assume the packaging is secure when it is not. Therefore, anyone who shares living space with young children must treat this product with extreme caution until the free replacement cap is obtained or the item is disposed of properly.
In summary, while any consumer should take steps to remedy this packaging defect, the ethical and safety imperative is strongest for households with toddlers and preschoolers. These are the individuals who lack the motor skills to open safe containers but have the curiosity to explore unsafe ones. By understanding that the risk is tied to accessibility rather than the product's efficacy, parents and guardians can better appreciate why immediate action is necessary. The goal is not to panic, but to recognize that a simple design flaw has created a gap in the safety net that usually protects our youngest family members from accidental medication errors.
How to tell if you have the recalled item
If you are unsure whether a bottle of skin cream in your medicine cabinet or bathroom drawer is part of this recall, do not rely on memory alone. It is easy to overlook small details when looking at familiar products, but identifying the specific defective units requires a careful inspection of several distinct physical characteristics. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has provided a precise description of the affected items to help consumers distinguish the recalled product from safe alternatives. You need to verify that your bottle matches every one of the following criteria simultaneously.
First, look at the brand name and product title printed on the packaging. The recalled item is manufactured by Desert Harvest and is specifically named Reléveum Skin Repair Cream. If the label reads a different brand or a different product name within the Desert Harvest line, it is not part of this specific recall notice. Next, pay close attention to the bottle itself. The defective containers are made of transparent green plastic. This allows you to see the cream inside, which is a key visual identifier. The cap is a white pump dispenser, which is standard for many lotions, but in this case, it is paired with the specific bottle style described below.
The label design is another critical clue. You should look for a label that features a tan and white gradient pattern. On the front of this label, the text "Desert Harvest Reléveum" must be clearly printed. If the label is solid white, entirely tan, or lacks this specific branding layout, the product is likely not the one in question.
You must also check the size and the unique date code to confirm if your unit is affected. The recall applies only to bottles containing either 4 ounces or 8 ounces of the cream. Larger or smaller sizes are not included in this notice. Most importantly, you need to find the production date code printed directly above the barcode on the bottle. Look closely for the code D02N5. If your bottle has a different code, it is safe from this specific defect. The combination of the transparent green bottle, white pump cap, tan/white gradient label, 4 or 8-ounce size, and the D02N5 date code confirms that you possess the recalled item.
If you find that your product matches all these details, please stop using it immediately for its intended purpose regarding child safety. Do not attempt to fix the closure yourself. Instead, follow the remedy instructions provided by Desert Harvest to obtain a proper replacement cap or further assistance. Taking a moment to carefully inspect the label and bottle code is the most effective way to ensure your household remains safe from this potential poisoning hazard.
What to do — step by step
If you own a bottle of Desert Harvest Reléveum Skin Repair Cream, the first and most important thing you need to do is stop using it immediately for its intended purpose. While the product contains lidocaine, a common over-the-counter ingredient used to numb skin and relieve pain from minor cuts, scrapes, or insect bites, the specific bottles involved in this recall are not safe for general household storage because they lack the required safety features. The primary risk here is not that the cream itself is toxic when applied correctly, but that the packaging fails to prevent curious children from accessing it. Therefore, your immediate action should be to take the bottle out of your bathroom cabinet or medicine cabinet and place it in a location that is completely out of sight and reach of young children. Ideally, this means putting it in a locked cabinet or up high on a shelf where a toddler cannot climb to it. This step is crucial because it creates an immediate physical barrier between the child and the potential hazard while you arrange for the official remedy.
Once the product is secured away from children, your next step is to contact Desert Harvest directly to initiate the remedy process. The company has committed to providing a free replacement cap that meets the child-resistant closure requirements mandated by law. To get this cap, you will need to reach out to their customer service team. You can do this by calling them at 800-222-3901. It is important to note their hours of operation: they are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. If you prefer to handle the request digitally, you can visit their website at www.desertharvest.com and navigate to the “Customer Service” section for more information on how to proceed. When you contact them, have your bottle ready so you can provide any necessary details, such as the date code "D02N5" printed above the barcode, which helps verify that your specific unit is part of this recall.
After you have contacted Desert Harvest and arranged for your free cap, you should wait for instructions on how to receive it. The remedy specified in this recall is focused solely on fixing the packaging issue by providing the correct child-resistant closure. This is a relatively simple fix compared to some recalls that require full returns or refunds, but it still requires your active participation. Do not simply throw the bottle away without contacting the company first, as they may need to track the number of affected units or provide specific disposal instructions. By following these steps—securing the product away from children, contacting the manufacturer during their business hours, and obtaining the free replacement cap—you effectively neutralize the poisoning risk associated with this recall. This process ensures that you can continue to use the skin repair cream safely if you choose to, or dispose of it properly once you have the new cap in hand.
Your refund, repair, or replacement options
If you have identified the Desert Harvest Reléveum Skin Repair Cream in your home, it is important to understand exactly how the company intends to resolve this safety issue. The recall notice provides a specific and straightforward remedy designed to address the hazard without requiring you to discard the product entirely or incur additional costs. Rather than offering a full monetary refund for the cream itself, Desert Harvest has chosen to provide a free replacement child-resistant cap. This approach makes practical sense given the nature of the defect. Since the bottle, label, and the cream inside are otherwise functional and safe for adult use, replacing just the closure mechanism is the most efficient way to bring the product into compliance with federal safety standards while allowing you to continue using the medication.
To initiate this process, you will need to contact Desert Harvest directly. The company has established a dedicated customer service line for recall-related inquiries. You can reach them by calling 800-222-3901. It is helpful to keep in mind their operating hours when planning your call: they are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. If you prefer to handle the logistics online, you can visit their website at www.desertharvest.com. Once there, look for the “Customer Service” section to find instructions on how to request your replacement cap. This digital option may be more convenient if you are unable to call during standard business hours or if you simply prefer to manage the request through written correspondence.
When you contact Desert Harvest, whether by phone or online, be prepared to provide specific details about your product to verify that it is part of the recalled batch. Specifically, have your bottle ready to confirm the date code “D02N5,” which should be printed above the barcode on the bottle. You may also need to confirm the size of the bottle (4 ounces or 8 ounces) and describe the packaging to ensure it matches the description: a transparent green bottle with a white pump dispenser cap and a tan/white gradient label. Providing this information accurately will help customer service representatives process your request quickly and ensure you receive the correct part.
The goal of this remedy is simple: to eliminate the risk of accidental poisoning by young children. By installing the new child-resistant cap, you transform the container from one that fails safety requirements into one that meets them. This is a critical step because the original packaging allowed for easy access, which poses a significant danger if a child were to swallow the lidocaine-containing cream. Once you receive and attach the free replacement cap, your product will be safe to keep in your home, provided it remains out of reach of young children as a general precaution. There are no reported incidents associated with this recall, but taking this step ensures that you remain on the safe side of safety regulations.
Please remember that the remedy is limited to the replacement cap. Desert Harvest has not indicated that they will offer refunds for the product or prepaid shipping labels for returning the entire bottle. The focus is strictly on correcting the closure mechanism. If you have questions about the installation of the new cap or if you encounter any difficulties during the ordering process, the customer service team at the number provided above is your primary point of contact for assistance.
What can happen if you ignore it
It is completely understandable why a bottle of Desert Harvest Reléveum Skin Repair Cream might stay in your bathroom cabinet or on your nightstand long after a recall notice arrives. Perhaps you are waiting for the cap to arrive in the mail, or maybe you simply have not gotten around to contacting customer service yet. You may feel that keeping the cream handy is worth the slight inconvenience of an extra step when opening it. However, ignoring this specific safety defect introduces a serious and unnecessary risk to your household, particularly if there are young children present.
The core issue here is not with the effectiveness of the cream itself, but with the container’s failure to meet federal safety standards for child-resistant packaging. The Poison Prevention Packaging Act exists for a very specific reason: standard caps can be opened by curious toddlers who have developed enough dexterity and strength to twist them off. When a bottle lacks these required child-resistant features, it essentially becomes an open invitation for a young child to access the contents. A child does not need to understand what the product is; they only need to see a colorful or intriguing bottle and reach for it.
If a child manages to unscrew the white pump dispenser cap on the transparent green bottle, they are likely to encounter the cream inside. This product contains lidocaine at a concentration of 4%. While lidocaine is a common and effective local anesthetic used in many medical settings, it is also a potent medication that can be toxic if ingested improperly by a small body. The consequences of such an incident can range from immediate physical distress to more severe systemic poisoning. Young children may experience nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or confusion after swallowing even a small amount of the cream. In more serious cases, excessive absorption of lidocaine can affect the central nervous system and heart rhythm, requiring emergency medical intervention.
While the Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that no incidents have been reported with this specific batch as of the recall date in September 2018, the absence of reported injuries is not a guarantee of safety. It simply means that, so far, no one has had to call for help because of this product. Relying on luck is never a prudent strategy when it comes to medication storage. Every day you continue to use the non-compliant bottle without securing it properly is a day where a child could potentially gain access to the lidocaine. The risk is not theoretical; it is a direct result of the missing safety barrier that the law requires for this type of topical anesthetic.
Furthermore, ignoring the recall means you are missing out on the remedy that has been provided specifically to solve this problem. Desert Harvest has acknowledged the defect and is offering free child-resistant caps. By not acting, you are choosing to maintain a known hazard rather than accepting a simple, cost-free fix. The effort required to swap the cap is minimal compared to the potential trauma of a poisoning event. If you have the bottle with date code "D02N5," the safest path is to treat it as if it already poses an immediate threat until you have secured it with the new cap or replaced the product entirely.
Staying safe: broader tips
While this specific recall addresses a packaging failure for a topical pain relief cream, the underlying principle applies to nearly every household containing children or individuals who may be vulnerable to accidental ingestion. The most effective defense against poisoning is not just reacting to a recall after the fact, but building a proactive safety culture around how you store and manage medications and hazardous household products. One of the most critical habits to cultivate is treating every container with caution, regardless of its appearance. Manufacturers often use bright colors or friendly branding that can be misleadingly appealing to young children. Always assume that any bottle, jar, or tube could contain something dangerous if ingested. This means never transferring medications into food containers, such as juice boxes or candy jars, which is a common but deadly mistake. Clear visual cues help everyone in the home understand that these items are not treats.
Storage location is equally important. Even when child-resistant closures are functioning correctly, physical barriers provide an essential second layer of protection. High shelves, locked cabinets, or elevated drawers that are out of a child’s line of sight and reach are ideal locations for over-the-counter creams, supplements, and cleaning supplies. It is not enough to simply put items away; you must ensure that the storage area itself is inaccessible. For households with infants who are learning to crawl or toddlers who are becoming more mobile, it is wise to regularly walk through your home at their eye level to identify potential hazards you might have missed while standing. Items left on bathroom counters or kitchen islands during daily routines often become accessible when adults turn their backs for just a moment.
Another vital aspect of long-term safety is staying informed about product recalls without waiting for a crisis to unfold. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other federal agencies issue hundreds of recalls annually for everything from furniture tip-overs to electronics fires. You can subscribe to email alerts from these agencies to receive notifications directly in your inbox. This allows you to quickly check if any products currently in your home are part of an active safety campaign. Additionally, consider keeping a digital or physical inventory of the medications and chemicals in your home. Knowing exactly what you have, where it is stored, and when it expires helps you manage risks more effectively than relying on memory alone.
Finally, educate yourself on the signs of poisoning and keep emergency numbers readily available. If someone does accidentally ingest a substance, time is of the essence. Have the phone number for Poison Control (1-800-222-1222 in the U.S.) saved in your phone contacts under "Poison Help" so it is instantly accessible. Do not wait to see if symptoms appear before calling. General prevention is about reducing opportunity and increasing awareness, turning potential accidents into non-events through consistent, thoughtful habits.