A 17-year-old's death is being blamed on a chemical commonly found in muscle creams. A medical examiner says the girl died from using too much of the creams which poisoned her system.

Arielle Newman died in April after her body absorbed high levels of methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory that's found in sports creams. It can be found in brands like Icy Hot and Bengay. Poisonings and deaths from the chemical are very rare.

The creams are used to ease pain in aching muscles after exertion. Newman was a cross-country runner at Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island, New York.

A spokesperson for the medical examiner's office said Newman used the creams to excess and that heat and exercise can speed up absorption, adding that the use of creams is not dangerous, but excess use might be.