Article not written by me, solely from the Sowetan Live Website, very long but I guess worth the read... It appears consumers of road side lightening body products are at possible health risk, as most of these creams have been found to contain harmful elements, with the possibility of kidney and brain diseases. Details after the cut...
By: Sibongile Mashaba | Sep 03, 2015
Informal traders on the streets are peddling highly-toxic and illegal skin lightening products found to contain dangerous substances.
The creams, which are not certified by the SA Bureau of Standards, are manufactured in Italy, UK, Congo, India, US and Ivory Coast.
Among the creams which are sold for as little as R17 in the Johannesburg CBD, are Epiderm Cream, Movate Cream, Lemonvate Cream, Caro Light, Extra Clair and Rico Complexion Cream.
A study by Professor Nonhlanhla Khumalo, head of dermatology at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital and her team found that these creams were also readily available to consumers in Cape Town.
According to the study, 29 products were examined. Of these, 22 were purchased from informal vendors and two were bought over the counter.
Some of the creams were listed as tested and were found to have been laced with dangerous substances, according to the study.
Researchers found that some of these creams contained up to four illegal substances, including mercury, hydroquinone and topical steroids.
Department of Health spokesman, Joe Maila, said people should know that anything sold on the street was not regulated and there was a possibility that it was dangerous. He urged people to stop buying these creams.
A Sowetan investigation into the sale of these products in the Johannesburg city centre found that most traders sold these creams, oils, lotions and capsules which dissolve once placed inside any kind of petroleum jelly or lotion one uses.
The study says government implemented regulations prohibiting the sale of over-the-counter cosmetics containing hydroquinone and limit its concentration in prescribed medications.
"Mercury (Hg) is completely banned in cosmetics in several countries including SA, while other countries allow concentrations up to 1 part per million (ppm)," the study found.
In skin-lightening products, mercury exists in the form of mercury chloride and ammoniated mercury, read the study in part.
The study warns that mercury can lead to kidney and brain poisoning.
Soweto resident Esther Khumalo, 75, told Sowetan she started using Diproson oil which later caused her skin to darken.
Marie Mujinga from Congo has been selling skin brightening products in the Johannesburg CBD since 2012. She uses them herself but she does not know they contain toxic elements.
Source: Sowetan
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