According to health D-G, cosmetic products have been found to contain mercury, hydroquinone, and tretinoin.
The Ministry of Health in Singapore has identified seven cosmetics products as containing scheduled poisons that may be hazardous to one’s health, as stated in a report that was published in today’s edition of the New Straits Times. The poisons in question may pose a risk to the individual’s physical wellbeing.
According to the organization’s National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Department (NPRA), the cosmetic products in question are referred to as Qu Gebu AP Krim, Night Glowing, Night Glow, Glowing Speed Gold Day Cream, Glowing Speed Gold Night Cream, Nour Ain Night Cream, and Royal Expert Whitening Cream.
Following the discovery of scheduled poison materials within these cosmetics products, the health director-general, Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, issued a statement in which he explained that the notifications regarding these products have been cancelled.
According to him, the cosmetic products Qu Gebu AP Krim and Night Glow contained hydroquinone and tretinoin, whereas the products Night Glowing, Glowing Speed Gold Day Cream, Glowing Speed Gold Night Cream, Nour Ain Night Cream, and Royal Expert Whitening Cream contained mercury.
Harmful Effects of Various Cosmetic Products
The use of cosmetic products that contain hydroquinone, as stated by Noor Hisham, “can cause redness on the skin, discomfort, undesirable skin discoloration, and may also cause the skin to become hypersensitive.”
According to him, acne treatment and wrinkle prevention are the two most common applications for cosmetic products containing tretinoin. However, if the product is used without proper supervision, it can cause redness on the skin, discomfort, burning, peeling, and heightened sensitivity to the sun.
“The adverse effects of cosmetic products containing mercury include potential harm to the kidneys and nervous system in the event that the element is absorbed by the body. It is also possible for it to interfere with the normal development of a child’s brain,” he explained.
Noor Hisham issued a warning to retailers and wholesalers, advising them to immediately cease selling and distributing the seven cosmetic products.
“Uncontrolled usage of antifungals (miconazole) can increase the risk of resistance, which in turn reduces the effectiveness of these medications in treating future infections.”
In addition, he issued a warning to any and all retailers and wholesalers who carried the cosmetic products, informing them that they were in violation of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.
“Person(s) (found guilty of violating) the regulations can be fined up to RM25,000 or face a maximum of three years imprisonment, or both, for the first offence. For subsequent crimes, the individual can be fined not more than RM50,000 or jailed for up to five years, or both.
“Companies that commit such an offence could be fined up to RM50,000 the first time, and RM100,000 for subsequent offences,” he added. “Companies that commit such an offence could be fined up to RM100,000 for subsequent offences.”
He recommended that anyone who had been using these cosmetic products immediately stop doing so and consult with medical professionals if they experienced any discomfort or negative effects as a result of using these products.
Checking the notification status of cosmetic products can be done on the official website of the NPRA, which can be found at www.npra.gov.my. Alternatively, the “NPRA Product Status” application, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, is another option.
It is against the law for a cosmetic to contain any ingredient that makes the cosmetic products harmful to consumers when they use it in accordance with the instructions on the label or in the manner that is typical or expected. This is the case regardless of whether or not there is a rule that expressly restricts or prohibits the use of the ingredient in cosmetics.
The one and only exception to this rule is found in the law’s treatment of hair dyes made with coal tar. As long as a special warning statement and instructions for a skin test are included on the packaging of a coal-tar hair dye, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is prohibited by law from taking any action against the product on the grounds that it poses a health risk. The following is what the warning statement says:
Warning: This product contains ingredients that could potentially irritate the skin of some people. Before using this product, you should conduct a preliminary test on your skin by following the instructions that come with it. Because it could potentially cause blindness, this product must not be used to dye either the eyelashes or the eyebrows.
It is also essential to have an understanding that some cosmetics that are safe to use if the product is applied appropriately may pose a health risk if the product is applied improperly. To ensure that people use cosmetics in a manner that is not hazardous to their health, the products must include any necessary warnings and directions for use.
For instance, certain components may be risk-free in products like cleansers that are immediately removed from the skin, but they may not be safe in products that are left on the skin for several hours at a time. In a similar vein, some components that are risk-free for use on the scalp or nails may be harmful if applied to the skin or brought close to the eyes.
Users are encouraged to seek the assistance of trained medical professionals in the event that they experience any level of discomfort.
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