UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) warned people about the use of some facial skin care whitening creams without the prescription of a dermatologist. A wide range of skin whitening products are marketing over social media, using them can cause permanent damage to the skin like facial bleaching and occurrence of dark spots.
Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Under-Secretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing at MOHAP, said that the number of girls using whitening creams are increasing day by day due to the social media influence. Some creams contain chemicals which must be used by the administration of a physician. Very long-term use of these type of creams could lead to skin cancer, in addition to liver disorders resulting from the substance absorbed through the skin.
He also cited the video of a GCC lady who showcased her skin whitening experience after mixing three creams, the first one is Dermovate, a preparation that contains a cortisone derivative ‘Corticosteroid’ used to treat symptoms such as skin inflammation and itching.
The second cream is Differin Gel, it contains Vitamin A and is a gentle exfoliator used to treat acne, and other skin conditions such as facial peeling, and protecting the skin from aging, and overexposure to sunlight. The cream could cause some adverse effects including dryness and allergy, and it must be applied at night time because it reacts with sunlight.
The third skin care brand, Hi-Queen, is an unregistered product which contains 4 percent Hydroquinone, a widely-used chemical substance available in the form of cosmetics, particularly prescribed for skin whitening. The World Health Organisation has reported that hydroquinone is a hazardous substance and could cause side effects leading to ochronosis, the accumulation of melanin pigments in some tissues such as joints and cartilages, apart from skin allergies in most cases.
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