Some Skin Creams Found to Contain Dangerous Levels of Mercury

[klaasend]

Some Skin Creams Found to Contain Dangerous Levels of Mercury

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

FC1


Some skin creams formulated to eliminate age spots and freckles contain a dangerously high level of toxic mercury that can cause kidney damage, according to an investigation by the Chicago Tribune.

The newspaper found that six out of 50 skin-lightening creams tested by a certified lab contained amounts of mercury that broke U.S. federal law. Five of the creams had formulas that had 6,000 parts per million of mercury — enough to cause kidney damage.

The products tested were purchased in a variety of stores, including grocery stores, beauty supply stores, salons, herbal medicine shops and on the Internet. The products were manufactured in Lebanon, China, India, Pakistan and Taiwan.

Click here to see a complete list and pictures of the six creams.

Mercury in skin creams was banned in 1990 by the Food and Drug Administration, but the investigation shows that products are rarely tested and still readily available.

Dr. Jonith Breadon, a Chicago dermatologist, often treats patients who want to lighten their skin. "I'm shocked and speechless," Breadon said. "I just assumed since (mercury) was banned in the U.S., it never got in. But clearly that isn't true."

The FDA told the Tribune that fewer than 500 inspectors with the agency are available to review imported products, making it close to impossible that every product can be thoroughly checked. "It is likely that things get past us," Ira Allen, an FDA spokesman said.

Retailers selling the mercury creams said they would remove them from the shelves, and two distributors are discontinuing them.

Mercury is absorbed through the skin rapidly, and toxic poisoning from mercury can range from blurred vision and trouble walking to shutting down organs and in severe cases, death.

[klaasend]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-0517-skincream.eps-20100518,0,4359807.graphic

[Deenie]

Klaas, that is very very interesting to read - shocking to hear. I know when I was in school for aesthetics - hydroquinone was always a hot topic for discussion. It too is a skin lightening chemical. It has been banned in almost all countries in Europe.

http://www.articlealley.com/article_578261_28.html

snipped:
Hydroquinone has been banned in Europe because of the dangers associated with it. Up until 2001, products that contained 2% hydroquinone were available legally. The perception people had were changed once the dangers were discovered.

The product is highly dangerous because it often contains mercury. Severe liver and kidney damage is one of the results of this combination. Skin disfiguration condition called ochnronosis is a potential side effect from using hydroquinone. Grayish brown spots occur as well as the skin becoming dark and thick. There is also the possibility that after you stop using the product, your melanin cells that were suppressed, may go haywire and start causing more pigmentation.

http://www.carefair.com/skincare/The_FDA_on_Hydroquinone_3095.html
Our FDA in USA
snipped:
If you look at any label on a skin lightening product, chances are you’ll see the ingredient hydroquinone. For years, this ingredient has been responsible for the most effective skin lightening treatments. In 2006, the FDA publicly announced the ban of over-the-counter cosmetic products containing hydroquinone. According to the ban, only products that contain 2% hydroquinone in its formula are allowed for sale in the  United States without a prescription, and 4% for those prescribed by a doctor. So for those of you that rely on this ingredient for your skin lightening treatments, the good news is that hydroquinone hasn’t been completely eliminated from the market.
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I know that many women have used this product ( high percentage) from the black market and become seriously ill, disfigured and have even died in the US. Since the ban here - that the only shelf concentrate is 2 percent or less. Which truly is ineffective, unless your trying to fade a small spot. Which with all that is known about Hydroquinone - Who would risk applying it to their skin.

Just an add of the top of my head - " Hydrocortisone cream"  Which we all more than likely have in our medicine cabs. Some women use it for skin discoloration - mostly face/hands
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682793.html
Hydrocortisone is available with or without a prescription. Low-strength preparations (0.5% or 1%) are used without a prescription for the temporary relief of (1) minor skin irritations, itching, and rashes caused by eczema, insect bites, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, soaps, detergents, cosmetics, and jewelry; (2) itchy anal and rectal areas; and (3) itching and irritation of the scalp. It is also used to relieve the discomfort of mouth sores.

http://www.psoriasiscafe.org/vitiligo-treatments.htm
Risks of over use - Hydrocortisone - especially on the face/hands used topically for long periods of time. High sun exposure adds to the risks - below

Hydrocortisone steroids once used liberally in the 1980's often cause more problems than they address. Steroids may initially help for a very short time, however they have often dangerous and longer lasting side effects such thinning of the skin, dilated blood vessels, bruising, skin colour changes and hair loss. Vitiligo often flares up much worse after discontinuing steroids. Long term use of Hydrocortisone can cause liver and kidney disease and worsen psoriasis. Large amounts of Hydrocortisone are found in the Skin Cap and Blue Cap and other "zinc" sprays, hence these products can be very dangerous. Stop using the steroids and Vitiligo usually returns many times worse than it was prior to using steroids to treat the Vitiligo.

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Jessica Simpson Documentary - Price of Beauty - A woman shown in the video Thailand - what happened to her face after many years of use " Skin Lighteners" and many other caustic chems - to lighten her facial skin. Shocking but true.
Start the vid at 8:40

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ymlECTMDGeI&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/ymlECTMDGeI&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0</a>

After her skin was treated by a Derm - and they applied makeup and hair extensions - What a transformation. 

The Reveal - at 55 seconds get the Kleenex (( this woman had not left her house in 5 years - due to the damage of her facial skin - that she created by using chemicals on her face and was at many times suicidal ))

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/XYMWL5lK414&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/XYMWL5lK414&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0</a>


This was a awesome documentary that Jessica made - I hope people take the time to watch the videos. Or that VH1 runs it again.