Skin lightening products can be dangerous for consumers when they contain harmful ingredients that are illegal for over-the-counter sales, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned in a recent release.
The FDA warned that people who have used products with hydroquinone had suffered side effects that included rashes, facial swelling, and permanent skin discoloration rashes, the FDA warned. Meanwhile, mercury is highly toxic and can damage the nervous, digestive, and immune systems and the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes.
Skin-lightening products are marketed as treatments for uneven skin tone, acne, age spots, freckles, and wrinkles.
Companies may describe skin-lightening products as skin bleaching, fading, evening, brightening, or whitening products. The FDA said that the products are often sold as creams, lotions, soaps, or powders in shops that cater to Hispanic/Latino, Asian, African, or Middle Eastern communities.
These products limit the skin’s production of melanin, which is responsible for skin, hair, and eye color. But hydroquinone and mercury can build up in the body over time.
“Skin lightening products containing hydroquinone are not approved for over-the-counter sale,” the FDA said. “However, you can get a prescription skin product containing hydroquinone from your health care provider. The use of mercury in skin lightening products is banned.”
Consumers should check product labels and avoid those containing hydroquinone or mercury. Mercury may be listed as mercurous chloride, calomel, mercuric, Mercurio, or Hg. Illegal products may be inaccurately labeled. The FDA said that avoid products with handmade labels, in languages other than English, or no label at all.
Parvathy Sukumaran 
