The national testing institution found eight of them having a higher level of harmful chemicals and subsequently banned their import, distribution, marketing and sales in Bangladesh. For the analysis, the researchers created a target list of 80 SLPs considered potentially high-mercury products (containing at least 1 ppm mercury) found in 17 Look for: Flipkart added that it uses a combination of artificial intelligence and manual interventions to track adherence to the law and to its terms of use. 08 The Maldives. Amin, the Devon Avenue store owner, said he bought the Stillman bleach cream from Detroit-based B.M. What is the most banned movie in the world? Mercury is found in both inorganic and organic forms in cosmetics. As per the research conducted wedish International Development Agency (SIDA) via the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC). Some creams promising to lighten skin, eliminate age spots and zap freckles contain high levels of mercury, a toxic metal that can cause severe health problems, a Tribune investigation has found. Frank Lin, a sales manager for Zenna Chemical Industry Co. in Taiwan, said the popularity of the company's Top-Gel product has spurred others to manufacture fakes. Trading. The report by Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) shows that four e-commerce platforms in Kenya still sell products that contain mercury despite calls for them to be taken off the shelves. The Tribune tests were conducted by Columbia Analytical Services, a lab in Kelso, Wash. Those tests found that one cream labeled Top-Gel, bought at a small African shop on the South Side, contained 7,030 parts per million of mercury. Mercury-laden cosmetics are restricted in most countries due to its toxic effects. However, it is rather worrying that these creams are found to be available, over and over again with very high mercury, in more platforms around the world, in all regions, and in comparison to our last survey, she said. Your email address will not be published. Skin lightening creams on a display in a retailer shop along River Road, Nairobi on October 10, 2019. Chandani Whitening Cream, from Pakistan, is a great cream like Promina Thailand and Qian Li China, if the results are compared among all three then Chandani Gives the most desirable result, but Chandani Whitening cream comes with a high quantity of Mercury, harmful for the human body, in fact, it is not advisable to use. Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the product, Momila Beauty Whitening Cream, contains mercury, which can be harmful to health. eBay told CNN it employs "a combination of digital and manual surveillance tools to remove products that do not comply with applicable health and safety regulations including skin lightening products containing banned ingredients hydroquinone and mercury." The table below provides the mercury and/or hydroquinone content of skin lighteners tested by FDA laboratories. It can be absorbed into the body and cause damage to the kidneys and nervous system," said Dr Noor Hisham. This is in support of a 2017 regulation spearheaded by the Minamata Convention, which supports the ban on mercury-added products that have mercury content of more than 1 part per million (ppm). Skin can get damaged if any skincare product contains more than that," said Dr Akram Ullah Sikdar, former chairman of the Dermatology and Venereology Department of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Source: StrategyR. They found that 129 of the products tested contained mercury levels exceeding 1 ppm, the international legal limit set by the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Mercury removes acne, wrinkles, freckles, etc. The face creams contain excessive mercury and hydroquinone; at least 100 times higher than the permissible level and can cause numerous skin diseases if one applies them for a long time, warned the government institution in a notification issued today (13 July). In particular, these products contain Mercury, Hydroquinone, The four online platforms were reported in the study to have creams that were in 2019 touted as unsafe because they contained high levels of mercury. Source: Saturday, 08 Jan 2022. Hydroquinone is a prescription-only medicine, said HSA, and is prohibited in over-the-counter skincare products. It is always best to talk with a dermatologist or other skin care expert before starting a new skincare routine. Dr. Lauren Taglia, Ph.D. The long-term use of steroids, or use without monitoring by a doctor, can lead to various side effects, such as rashes, pustules, hair growth on the skin, and infections. 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In a study, it was found that not less than 200 times does these harmful chemicals were used, beyond the permissible limit of any cosmetic regulatory act worldwide. Bender and Lymberidi-Settimo explained that while platforms often take products down when informed of their sale, they often appear again later. The company makes no disclosure of Mercury in its ingredients list published on the wrapper. After publication, a legal representative for Ubuy responded to CNN, stating that the company was not aware of these products being sold on its sites and that UBuy addresses the sale of violative products and goods through its websites using algorithms to block them from appearing on a country's website or in search results. Regular use of SLPs containing mercury reduces resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, rashes, skin discoloration, and blotchy skin. Breadon, the Chicago dermatologist, said she often feels like she is fighting a losing battle because skin creams are so readily available in ethnic shops. If you have questions, call your health care professional or the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222; it is open 24 hours a day. He advised traders to immediately stop selling and distributing these products as it is an offence under the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984. "We will continue to do so and take required action should there be sellers and products that don't meet our safety standards and our code of compliance," they told CNN. Himalaya Herbals Clear Complexion Whitening Day Cream. Products tested in a variety of countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and North America have contained up to 40,000 parts per million (ppm) of mercury. FDA spokesman Ira Allen said that with fewer than 500 inspectors reviewing imports, the agency cannot check all food, drug and cosmetic products under its jurisdiction. The Tribune's tests among only a handful ever conducted show that tainted products are still readily available. The report says that the current legal regulatory framework in most countries is a letdown to customers yet they should protect them from dangerous, counterfeit and illegal products sold online. In the long term, mercury use has also been linked to damage to the eyes, breathing difficulties, nervous system damage, and kidney disease. Skin whitening products containing high levels of mercury continue to be sold on the world's biggest e-commerce platforms, including websites run by eBay, Amazon and Alibaba, a new report by the Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) finds. It wony stop here, kidney problem digestive and lungs disorder. Of them, 14 are Pakistani beauty products, 1 Chinese brand, 1 locally produced and anotherunknown. He said those who have been using the products should immediately stop using them and seek advice from health professionals if they experience any discomfort or adverse side effects. KUALA LUMPUR: The health ministry has banned three cosmetic products found to contain mercury, a scheduled poison. Other products sold globally and are easily accessible online are Due Beauty cream, Goree creams and Kim Whitening creams. The company claimed the products tested by ZMWG were these discontinued products, adding that their own product is homemade using ingredients bought in the US. Labels on both boxes said the creams were manufactured by Zenna Chemical. The creams were bought at a variety of stores: a large beauty-supply store in the Uptown neighborhood, an herbal medicine shop in Chinatown, an Indian beauty salon on Devon Avenue, a grocery store also on Devon, and a small African shop on 79th Street. Learn about the signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning in children and adults. These are Chandni Whitening cream, Golden Pearl, Noor Herbal Beauty Cream, Dr Japan, Aneeza Gold Beauty cream and Faiza Beauty Cream. This is, View According to Health Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah in June, mercury could also affect internal organs such as the kidney. Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the products involved were Moleek Day Cream; Adel Miracle Flawless Serum; Ah Beauty Night Cream (containing mercury); Ndz UV Whitening (hydroquinone); Snow Cream Normal; Snow Cream Sensitive; Dnars Nar Cream - Sensitive; and Ellfie Night Cream (hydroquinone Skin Whitening Beauty Creams Excessive Mercury In 8 Beauty Creams The Business Standard . But 47% of the skin whitening products tested by the ZMWG contained more than the permitted level of mercury, with many containing over 10,000 ppm of mercury -- and some over 50,000ppm, according to the report. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Authentic Titaura, Tea, Balm, Delay Spray. Chandni Whitening cream washes away pigmentation thanks to its high usage of Mercury, dark spots and blemishes fade away. Mercury Poisoning Linked to Skin Products, FDA works to protect consumers from potentially harmful OTC skin lightening products, Reporting Unlawful Sales of Medical Products on the Internet, MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program, Dial 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) orcall the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for your state or region, Light & Natural CAROTONE Black Spot Corrector CREME B.S.C, An official website of the United States government, Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts, Skin Products Containing Mercury and/or Hydroquinone, For More Information and to Report a Problem, call the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for your state or region, Skin Products Found to Contain Mercury and/or Hydroquinone, Skin care & Cosmetic MSII Whitening Peeling, Skin care & Cosmetic MSII Express Peeling. Discover Noor herbal beauty cream for Brighter, smoother & even Toned Skin Complexion. According to the report, a greater number of the skin whitening products tested by ZMWG and found to contain high levels of mercury were available on eBay, Ubuy, Shopee (owned by Sea Limited) and Flipkart. All it publishes are: 100% natural ingredients like milk protein, aloe vera, and glycerin. The site is secure. Effective for Skin whitening is a potential side effect, which has led to topical steroid misuse. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Instant glow.Decreases dark marks.Effective for dark circles. If you have an Ad-blocker please disable it and reload the page or try again later. "I had become fairer, but I had also started developing red rashes below my eyes, which was where I would put more of the cream," she said. Michael Bender, director of the Mercury Policy Project, questioned why people might want to use SLPs in the first place. Consumers should exercise caution when purchasing health products online, especially from unfamiliar websites, added HSA. The US FDA recognizes that hydroquinone may be a carcinogen. Manufacturers use mercury because its content inhibits the formation of melanin, which results in a lighter skin tone. Home remedies and medical treatments can help remove dark spots caused by pimples. Noor herbal beauty cream is your complete beauty system. A healthier you. Some sellers and suppliers wouldn't disclose where they bought creams that tested high for mercury. Lymberidi-Settimo wants clear liability rules to be established by national governments and for consumers to be provided with the same information online that they would see in stores, such as labeling information and the full disclosure of ingredients. Scary news if you use any kind of skin-care products: The California Department of Public Health released a public health alert last week after multiple cases of inorganic mercury poisoning were linked to skin creams purchased in Mexico. Previously, BSTI set the standard at a maximum 1 ppm of mercury concentration, and less than 5 ppm of hydroquinone. Dr. Roopal Kundu, assistant professor of dermatology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, said patients can ask for a prescription from a doctor. A total of 36 brands made products identified by the ZMWG as containing high levels of mercury and the majority were available in multiple countries and continents through a range of online platforms. BSTI said its regular surveillance team bought the Often, mercury or hydroquinone is not declared on the product label. This story is part of 'White lies', a series by CNN's As Equals investigating skin whitening practices worldwide to expose the underlying drivers of colorism, the industry that profits from it and the cost to individuals and communities. "The substance can also disrupt brain Three cosmetic products found to contain mercury, says Dr Noor Hisham Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the products are Glow Skin HSA warned that regularly applying creams containing mercury can lead to rash, skin discolouration and blotching, while long-term exposure to high amounts can cause serious health risks, including damage to the kidneys, and the digestive and nervous systems. It can also disrupt the brain development of young or unborn children, besides Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the product, Momila Beauty Whitening Cream, contains mercury, which can be harmful to health. All but La Tia Mana had been identified in previous ZMWG reports but continue to contain high levels of mercury and be available online, according to the latest report. Sunday, 09 Jan 2022. Chandani Whitening cream washes away pigmentation thanks to its high usage of Mercury, dark spots and blemishes fade away. CNN's Pallabi Munsi contributed to this report.This article has been updated to include a response from UBuy. Countries like Pakistan do not have any law that prohibits the manufacture of this kind of Cream instead it has emerged as a hub, exposing Pakistani women to risk. Deeja Cosmetic Wrinkle cream contains mercury. Two years ago, she wanted to become fairer skinned ahead of her wedding and began using two of the creams identified to contain high levels of mercury in the report, which she purchased on one of the sites named in the report, she told CNN. Temi Tea Estate: 100% Organic Tea Estate in India. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Chandani is a famous brand in third world countries like India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Srilanka. Routine use of skin lighting cream and products will lead to skin discolouration and rashes. It found 17 of the products contained a higher level of harmful chemicals and subsequently banned their import, distribution, marketing and sales in Bangladesh. When notified of the Tribune's test results, the retailers said they would pull the products from shelves, and two distributors said they would stop selling them. Of these, 129 products in 16 countries were found to have high levels of mercury and were being sold on more than 30 different sites. Hydroquinone is no longer available over the counter.. " Dermatologists said there are safe alternatives for people who want to lighten age spots, stretch marks or other discolorations on their skin. Learn more here. Mercury is a heavy metal and it cannot be used in a skincare product. When asked for comment, Goree told CNN that its creams contain less than 1ppm mercury but did not respond to further questions or requests for comment regarding the latest ZMWG findings, which found the cream to contain 21699 ppm mercury. When the Tribune bought and tested another tube of Top-Gel sold online by a California-based firm, it was found to contain 1.9 parts per million a much smaller, but still banned, amount. As noted in the 2019 ZMWG report, follow-up investigations during 2018 showed that the same brands were found to contain high mercury concentrations on several consecutive sampling occasions in both physical shops and via e-commerce platforms, the report reads. With the accessibility to products and social media, I often see that patients are using too many products at one time especially products with active ingredients. Yet in most cases, those measures did little to deter online sellers, they explain. Allen, with the agency, said there is no record of a formal complaint. It's also toxic. When asked for more clarity, the company did not respond. The question is. Mercury is a common ingredient found in skin whitening creams and soaps worldwide due to its bleaching effect. For example, CNN contacted eBay in December highlighting the availability of Chandni beauty cream and Goree day and night cream on its site based on the findings of the 2019 ZMWG report. He said the products the Tribune tested were likely impostors, right down to the hologram on the box. The Food and Drug Administration banned mercury in skin-bleaching or lightening products in 1990, but the agency rarely tests the products to see if consumers are at risk. Estimates for the percentage of women that use skin-whitening products in Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Adbul Amin said he decided to stock it at his Devon Avenue grocery store because the product is so popular in Pakistan. Source: Local cosmetics manufacturers said hydroquinone and mercury are de-pigmenting agents used to lighten areas of darkened skin. World Health Organization. Grand View Research The investigation which was done globally showed that in 2019 about seven online platforms globally had the creams in stock but the latest analysis which was done between 2020 and 2022 shows that about 14 more platforms had the beauty creams in stock. Updated 1346 GMT (2146 HKT) September 3, 2022. Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement today, said the products included Deeja Cosmetics Laika Cream (containing mercury), Dejaa Fair & White Gold 2 Maxi Tone Lotion. The manufacturers of Chandani are well aware of the fact Mercury is an abolished product in cosmetics whole over the world which may be the reason that they are not disclosing it. Copyright 2023 Mediacorp Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. var theDate = new Date(); ", International Journal of Women's Dermatology, American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. She said she often sees patients whose faces are lighter than the rest of their bodies, and she must coax out of them what products they use. Mercury-containing products were also purchased on Daraz and Aliexpress, both part of the Alibaba group, and two creams were bought on Amazon's India site and Amazon.com. KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 The Health Ministry (MoH) has banned three cosmetic products found to contain mercury, a scheduled poison. "Hydroquinone can be used at a certain level of 2-4 ppm (parts per million). Having the harmful chemicals at least 200 times higher than the permissible level, these brands can develop numerous skin diseases if one applies them for a long time, warned the government institution. Mercury is used to skin-brightening products. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. WebNoor herbal beauty cream is your complete beauty system. Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has banned 17 skin whitening creams containing harmful levels of mercury and hydroquinone. Decreases dark marks. It helps to Reduce the Hyper- Pigmentation, Acne, Scars, Sunburns, Fine lines, Freckle & Marks on the skin. BSTI collected several samples of beauty creams from markets and tested them at their laboratory. Mercury salts block the production of melanin, The four companies all explained that the sale of illegal or hazardous products is prohibited on their sites and that sellers are expected to follow local regulations and company policies. Contact us. The Nation also learnt that some online shops were not mentioned in the report but also sell products like Faiza beauty cream, which go for Sh600. 12 creams had mercury levels above the maximum detection capability of the Milestone DMA-80 instrument. Ans: Yes Mercury is present in the cream, though the brand is not admitting it. Mercury has long been used in skin whitening products due to its ability to block the production of melanin in the skin -- the pigment that gives color to skin. Retailers say they order the creams over the Internet, buy them from suppliers and sometimes bring them in personally from abroad. Consumers should see a board certified dermatologist to treat hyperpigmentation disorders. People with dark tanned skin may try and get benefitted. Grand View Research Health director-general, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a statement today announced the notification of the cosmetic product has been cancelled by the Pharmaceutical Services director of the Health Ministry (MOH) and is not allowed to be sold in the country.