J Am Acad Dermatol 2013 Dec 07;[EPub Ahead of Print], CR Hamann, W Boonchai, L Wen, E Nishijima Sakanashi, C-Yu Chu, K Hamann, CP Hamann, K Sinniah, D Hamann Review · December 20, 2013
Full Story: http://www.practiceupdate.com/journalscan/7181
Journal Reference: http://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(13)01046-3/abstract
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- Out of 549 mercury-containing skin-lightening cosmetic products purchased from 32 countries, 6% contained mercury > 1000 ppm. Of products purchased in the US, 3.3% contained mercury > 1000 ppm.
- Mercury-containing skin-lightening products are available for purchase around the world. The FDA limits mercury in cosmetic products to 1 ppm, but prescribed skin-lightening products do not list mercury as an active ingredient. Physicians should be aware of potential mercury toxicity, which has nonspecific symptoms such as dermatitis, fatigue, weakness, and insomnia in patients using lightening products.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND
Cosmetic skin lightening is practiced worldwide. Mercury is a well-documented melanotoxin added to some lightening products. However, mercury can cause many dermatologic, renal, and neurologic problems. The Food and Drug Administration limits the amount of mercury in cosmetic products to trace amounts, 1 ppm.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate a large international sample of lightening products for mercury content, focusing on products available to US consumers either online or in stores.
METHODS
A total of 549 skin-lightening products, manufactured in 32 countries, were purchased online in the United States, Taiwan, and Japan and in stores in the United States, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and Sri Lanka. Cosmetics were screened for mercury content above 200 ppm using a low-cost portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer.
RESULTS
Of the 549 tested products, 6.0% (n = 33) contained mercury above 1000 ppm. In all, 45% of mercury-containing samples contained mercury in excess of 10,000 ppm. Of lightening products purchased in the United States, 3.3% were found to contain mercury in excess of 1000 ppm.
LIMITATIONS
Our study did not evaluate creams for other melanosuppressive ingredients. Only 1 sample of each product was tested.
CONCLUSION
Our study confirms the national and global presence of mercury in skin-lightening products.