A state health department is warning consumers about hazardous skin lightening products.
These creams and soaps are often sold to people looking to lessen the appearance of age spots, scars, or darkening of the skin.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is advising consumers to stop using some types of skin-lightening products, after testing revealed that they may contain dangerous levels of mercury.
Eleven of the 27 skin lightening products tested contained mercury, at levels ranging from 135 to 33,000 parts per million. According to law, these products can only contain trace elements of mercury.
Application of a lotion containing mercury can eventually seep into the skin and poses health risks. Officials say anyone using this kind of product should check the ingredients. Officials cautioned that mercury may appear on product labels under several different names. Consumers should check for anything that includes the words “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurous” or “mercurio.” If a product contains these ingredients, they should not be used.
At a minimum, consumers should make sure that the product they are using has an ingredient list and mercury is not listed as an ingredient.
“The skin-lightening products tested came from retailers who primarily serve the African, Asian, Latino and Middle Eastern communities in the Twin Cities. However, health officials say these products aren’t limited to these groups. All segments of the population are potential users of the products, and all parts of the state are potentially affected,” MDH said.
Mercury exposure is known to cause harmful effects to the kidneys, officials said.
Anyone that finds a skin lightening cream with mercury should not just stop using it, health officials say they should be disposed of properly. According to officials, mercury is a toxic pollutant and can’t just be tossed your garbage can. “If it is released to the land or waters further human exposure may result,” the press release said.
