Before you purchase or use cosmetics or skin creams be sure to check the label for mercury. Skin care products that contain mercury can cause mercury poisoning (see symptoms below). Check the ingredients for words like “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury” and if it has mercury in it do NOT use it. The U.S. Food and Drug administration issued a warning against it, saying skin care products containing mercury are no longer allowed in the United States but still they are getting in. According to, "Jason Humbert of FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs says these products usually are manufactured abroad and sold illegally in the United States, often in shops catering to the Latino, Asian, African, or Middle Eastern communities. They are promoted online on social media sites and sold through mobile apps. Consumers may also have bought them in another country and brought them back to the U.S. for personal use, he adds" (1).
Products most often containing mercury are sold as:
Products most often containing mercury are sold as:
- Skin lighteners
- Anti-aging treatments to remove age spots or wrinkles
- Treatments to remove freckles or blemishes
- Acne treatments
If the product does not have a label DO NOT USE IT. Federal law requires that all cosmetics or nonprescription drug have the ingredients listed on the label. If you cannot understand the language on the label DO NOT USE IT. The product ingredients labeling should be in English even if it is listed on the label in another language. If it is not labeled in English it could be a sign that the product is being sold illegally.
“Even though these products are often promoted as cosmetics, they also may be unapproved new drugs under the law,” says Linda Katz, M.D., director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors. FDA does not allow mercury in drugs or in cosmetics, except under very specific conditions where there are no other safe and effective preservatives available – conditions that these products do not meet.
Dangers of Mercury
Exposure to mercury can have serious health consequences. The danger isn’t just to people who use mercury-containing products but also to their families, says Arthur Simone, M.D., a senior medical advisor at FDA.
“Your family might breathe mercury vapors released from these products. Your children might touch washcloths or towels that are contaminated with mercury. It could be as simple as touching someone’s cheek or face,” Simone says.
Some people – including pregnant women, nursing babies and young children – are especially vulnerable to mercury toxicity, he adds. Babies may be particularly sensitive to the harm mercury can cause to their developing brains and nervous systems. Newborns who nurse are vulnerable because mercury is passed into breast milk. See symptoms of mercury poisoning, watch our featured video, find out how to protect yourself if you have come in contact with mercury and more below.
“Even though these products are often promoted as cosmetics, they also may be unapproved new drugs under the law,” says Linda Katz, M.D., director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors. FDA does not allow mercury in drugs or in cosmetics, except under very specific conditions where there are no other safe and effective preservatives available – conditions that these products do not meet.
Dangers of Mercury
Exposure to mercury can have serious health consequences. The danger isn’t just to people who use mercury-containing products but also to their families, says Arthur Simone, M.D., a senior medical advisor at FDA.
“Your family might breathe mercury vapors released from these products. Your children might touch washcloths or towels that are contaminated with mercury. It could be as simple as touching someone’s cheek or face,” Simone says.
Some people – including pregnant women, nursing babies and young children – are especially vulnerable to mercury toxicity, he adds. Babies may be particularly sensitive to the harm mercury can cause to their developing brains and nervous systems. Newborns who nurse are vulnerable because mercury is passed into breast milk. See symptoms of mercury poisoning, watch our featured video, find out how to protect yourself if you have come in contact with mercury and more below.
Signs & Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning
Signs and Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning are:
- Irritability
- Shyness
- Tremors
- Changes in vision or hearing
- Memory problems
- Depression
- Numbness and tingling in hands, feet or around mouth
Featured Video: Yikes! FDA WArns of Skincare Products Containing Mercury
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How to Protect Yourself If you have come in contact with mercury
- Wash hands and any part of your body which has come in contact with mercury containing products.
- Contact your health care professional or a medical care clinic for advice. If you have questions, call your health care professional or the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222; it is open 24 hours a day.
- Before throwing out a product that may contain mercury, seal it in a plastic bag or leak-proof container. Check with your local environmental, health, or solid waste agency for disposal instructions. Some communities have special collections or other options for disposing of hazardous household waste (1).
Legal Ramifications for Selling Skin CAre Products with Mercury in the U.S.
Legal Punishment for Selling Skin Care Products with Mercury in them
Sellers and distributors who market mercury-containing skin whitening or lightening creams in the U.S. may be subject to:
In the past few years, FDA and state health officials have discovered numerous products that contain mercury, and there have been cases in which people exposed to such products have had mercury poisoning or elevated levels of mercury in their bodies. FDA has an import alert in place that lets our field staff know that the agency has enough evidence or other information to refuse admission of shipments of mercury-containing skin products.
But this is only a partial solution, Humbert says.
“Many of these products are coming into the country through illegal channels,” he says. “That’s why it’s so important for consumers and sellers to know about the dangers of possible mercury poisoning associated with the use of these skin products.”(1).
Sellers and distributors who market mercury-containing skin whitening or lightening creams in the U.S. may be subject to:
- Enforcement action
- Seizure of products
- Injunctions, and, in some situations, criminal prosecution
In the past few years, FDA and state health officials have discovered numerous products that contain mercury, and there have been cases in which people exposed to such products have had mercury poisoning or elevated levels of mercury in their bodies. FDA has an import alert in place that lets our field staff know that the agency has enough evidence or other information to refuse admission of shipments of mercury-containing skin products.
But this is only a partial solution, Humbert says.
“Many of these products are coming into the country through illegal channels,” he says. “That’s why it’s so important for consumers and sellers to know about the dangers of possible mercury poisoning associated with the use of these skin products.”(1).
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References:
1. Mercury Poisoning Linked to Skin Products. (July 26, 2016). Fda.gov. Retrieved 6 July 2018, from https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm294849.htm
2. Yikes! FDA Warns Of Skincare Products Containing Mercury. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 6 July 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHFoEpZEwCs
3. Free Image on Pixabay - Girl, Sadness, Fear, Portrait. (2018). Pixabay.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018, from https://pixabay.com/en/girl-sadness-fear-portrait-1152382/ edited on BeFunky.com
1. Mercury Poisoning Linked to Skin Products. (July 26, 2016). Fda.gov. Retrieved 6 July 2018, from https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm294849.htm
2. Yikes! FDA Warns Of Skincare Products Containing Mercury. (2018). YouTube. Retrieved 6 July 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHFoEpZEwCs
3. Free Image on Pixabay - Girl, Sadness, Fear, Portrait. (2018). Pixabay.com. Retrieved 8 July 2018, from https://pixabay.com/en/girl-sadness-fear-portrait-1152382/ edited on BeFunky.com