WHO: mercury in skin lightening creams can damage kidneys

Skin lightening cosmetic products which contain inorganic mercury are a health hazard and could damage kidney besides causing rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report. Mercury, a common ingredient found in skin lightening soaps and creams, salts inhibit the formation of melanin which result in a lighter skin tone. Mercury is also found in other cosmetics, such as eye makeup cleansing products and mascara. Mercury can also cause a reduction in the skin's resistance to bacterial and fungal infections and the report goes on to say that other effects of using such products can cause anxiety, depression or psychosis and peripheral neuropathy. Mercury in cosmetics exists in two forms - inorganic and organic. Inorganic mercury, for example ammoniated mercury, is used in skin lightening soaps and creams. Organic mercury compounds (thiomersal, ethyl mercury and phenyl mercuric salts) are used as cosmetic preservatives in eye makeup cleansing products and mascara, the report said. The report details the percentage of women populations from Africa and Asia that use skin lightening products. Skin lightening soaps and creams are commonly used in certain African and Asian nations. They are also used among dark-skinned populations in Europe and North America. Mercury used in cosmetics is also a serious threat to the environment as it is eventually discharged into wastewater from where it enters the environment where it becomes methylated and finds its way into the food chain as the highly toxic methyl mercury in fish. Pregnant women who consume fish containing methyl mercury transfer the mercury to their fetuses which can later result in neuro developmental deficits in children, the report said. Many international regulatory bodies have banned mercury-containing creams and soaps. It is banned in the European Union and many African nations. Some have put limits on the amount of mercury that can used for cosmetics other than eye products. The United States Food and Drug Administration limits less than 1 mg/kg, Health Canada allows less than or equal to 3 mg/kg and the Philippines Food and Drug Administration has put a limit of 1 mg/kg. In conclusion the WHO report says, "Information on alternatives must also be provided, because skin lightening products that do not contain mercury may contain other hazardous substances".