The US Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.
Potentially harmful substances include hydroquinone or mercury, the agency said in a news release.
The FDA warns that people who use hydroquinone-containing products have side effects, including rashes, facial swelling, and permanent skin discoloration. Mercury is highly toxic, affecting the nervous, digestive and immune systems as well as the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes.
Skin lightening products are marketed to treat uneven skin tone, acne, age spots, freckles and wrinkles. Companies may describe skin lightening products as lightening, lightening, smoothing, whitening, or skin lightening. The products are often sold as creams, lotions, soaps or powders in stores that serve Hispanic/Latino, Asian, African or Middle Eastern communities, the FDA said.
These products limit the production of melanin in the skin, which is responsible for skin, hair and eye color. However, hydroquinone and mercury can accumulate in the body over time.
"Skin lightening products containing hydroquinone are not approved for over-the-counter sale," the FDA said. But you can get a prescription skin product that contains hydroquinone from your doctor. The use of mercury in skin lightening products is prohibited.
Here is more information from the FDA about the dangers of skin lightening products:
Consumers should check product labels and avoid those that contain hydroquinone or mercury. Mercury may be listed as mercuric chloride, calomel, mercury, mercury, or mercury. Illegal products can be combined incorrectly. Avoid products with handmade labels, languages other than English or no labels at all, the FDA says.
Report adverse reactions to skin products to your healthcare provider and to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.
More information: The World Health Organization has more about mercury in skin products.Copyright © 2022 Health Day. all rights reserved.
Citation: FDA Warns About Skin Cavity Creams (September 1, 2022) Retrieved September 5, 2022, from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-09-fda-dangers-skin-creams.html.
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