FDA warns vs 16 skin whitening products

MANILA, Philippines - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against 16 unregistered skin whitening products that are being sold in the market and could be harmful to health.

FDA acting director Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go said 11 of the products were found to contain mercury beyond the level allowed by the agency and as prescribed in the ASEAN Cosmetic Directives.

The FDA identified these products as Angel Placenta whitening cream (Tender Skin & Whitening), Erna whitening cream, Gemli beauty series freckles cream plus placenta extract, Jiaoli Huichunsu specific eliminating freckle cream, Jiaoli speckle dispelling and whitening cream, LMSER whitening cream, Sanli eliminating freckle cream plus complex vitamin C and E, Top Shirley nourishing cream, White Magnolia intensive repair essence and powerful spot remover, Zhjren whitening ruddy combination suit, and Zhjren 7 Day beauty elegant moisturizing and whitening day cream.

“The finding is not surprising for cosmetic products without FDA market authorization,” said Go in FDA Advisory 2013-053.

He said there are manufacturers and traders who add mercury salts in cosmetic products to prevent formation of skin melanin which would result to lighter skin tones.

 â€œAdverse health effects brought about by highly toxic mercury in cosmetic products include kidney damage, skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring,” he said.