Certain skin-lightening creams and medicated soaps can contain mercury. Soaps and creams containing mercury are banned in the United States, but may be available for purchase over the counter or on the Internet.
The mercury in these types of products can be absorbed through your skin. Mercury can damage the brain, nervous system and kidneys. It may also damage the skin, cause rashes and blotchy spots, and give skin a grayish color.
The longer and more often products containing mercury are used, the greater the health risk. These products can be especially harmful to children.
Products may contain mercury, even if it is not listed as an ingredient on the label. Check packaging materials and any instructions or ingredient lists carefully. Look for:
Listed below are some skin-lightening creams and medicated soaps that have been found to contain high levels of mercury. Click on the warning sign links to print signs.
Call 311 to report a store selling products found to contain mercury.
Products Made in Pakistan
Product Name | Manufacturer |
---|---|
Chandni Whitening Cream |
SJ Enterprises |
Face Fresh Beauty Cream |
Shaheen Cosmetics |
Faiza No 1 Beauty Cream |
A.M. Cosmetics |
Faiza Beauty Cream |
Poonia Brothers |
Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene |
Goree Cosmetics (Pvt.) Ltd. |
Golden Pearl Beauty Cream |
Golden Pearl Cosmetics |
Infocus Professional Pearl Beauty Cream |
Infocus Cosmetology Co. |
Kanza Beauty Cream |
Noorani and Company |
Sandal Whitening Beauty Cream |
MMC Cosmetics |
Seven Herbal Ubtan Cream |
C.P.H.L. |
Stillman’s Freckle Cream |
Stillman Company Inc., USA |
Stillman’s Skin Bleach Cream |
Stillman Company Inc., USA |
Zuni Beyoutiful Beauty Cream |
Zuni USA LLC |
Products Made in Lebanon
Product Name | Manufacturer |
---|---|
Diana Cream |
Diana de Beauté |
Products Made in Spain
Product Name | Manufacturer |
---|---|
Niuma Medicated Antiseptic Soap | Niuma Belleza |
Niuma Lemon Medicated Germicidal Soap | Niuma Belleza |
Products Made in Dominican Republic
Product Name | Manufacturer |
---|---|
Crema Santa | N/A |
Crema Santa Germicida | N/A |
Dermaline Beauty Cream | N/A |
Dermaline Skin Cream | N/A |
Dermaline Skin Whitening Cream | N/A |
Jabon Germicida Contifarma (soap) | N/A |
Miss Key Crema Blanqueadora | N/A |
Pomada Salva-Vida (balm) | N/A |
Recetas de la Farmacia Normal–Crema Blanqueadora | N/A |
Products Made in Jamaica
Product Name | Manufacturer |
---|---|
Deluxe Nadinola Bleaching Cream | N/A |
Products Made in European Economic Community
Product Name | Manufacturer |
---|---|
Germicida 200 (soap) | N/A |
Unknown Place of Manufacture
Product Name | Manufacturer |
---|---|
Due Beauty Cream |
Kreative Cosmetics (Pvt.) Ltd. |
Magia Blanca de Michelle Marie Crema Blanqueadora | N/A |
Nufutong |
N/A |
Immediately stop using skin-lightening creams and medicated soaps that contain elevated mercury or list mercury as an ingredient.
If you use non-prescription products to lighten your skin or for skin disorders, talk to your doctor. If you do not have a doctor, call 311.
Appropriately dispose of mercury containing products. Do not throw these products in the trash. Place unused product(s) in a sealed plastic bag until they can be disposed of properly at an NYC Department of Sanitation SAFE Disposal event or Special Waste Drop-off location. Thoroughly wash your hands and other exposed body parts that touched the products. You should wash surfaces that came into contact with these products.
Be sure to keep these and other hazardous consumer products out of reach of children.
For more information about mercury and health, call the Poison Control Center at 212-POISONS (212-764-7667).