WHAT DOES MERCURY DO TO YOUR SKIN?
"Mercury is prohibited in cosmetic products because it can be harmful to health. It can be absorbed into the body and cause damage to the kidneys and nervous system. It can also interfere with the brain development of young or unborn children and can cause rashes, irritations and other changes in the skin,"
Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisyam Abdullah, Former DG of KKM, The Star, 13 Feb 2023.
As discussed in our previous article -Skin whitening, it is well-known among our Asian society and culture that having light skin is highly associated with more luck, higher social status and better privileges. More importantly, having a lighter skin means you look more beautiful. Because of this scenario and unfair judgmental culture, women are literally forced to have a light skin so that they can comfortably fit in the so-called “beautiful society”. Then, comes the vast range of whitening products available in the market to feed these desperate women who have great hunger for white-beauty. These products are sold in cheap, affordable price for these non-white women to choose and use to whiten their skin. In addition, these products do not only give such a promising whitening effect, but it also provides its users a faster action and result, thus turning a crow to a white pigeon in no time.
In cosmetic world, mercury is an effective ingredient that can do the job of skin whitening and bleaching excellently. Two common forms of inorganic mercury are mercurous (Hg+ ) and mercuric (Hg2+) salts (Park & Zheng 2012). Mercury salts block the production of melanin by replacing tyrosinase enzyme anions, resulting in a lighter skin tone, anti-freckle and anti-blemishes effects. This statement gives a strong reason why mercury is a common ingredient found in most skin whitening products such as lightening cream, day and night cream, soap, mask, etc. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mercury levels in skin lightening products should be less than one part per millions (ppm). Blinding the WHO requirement, in order to compete and win profitably, whitening product manufacturers formulate their products with high amount of mercury so the consumers will get lighter skin sooner. With high level of mercury, those products are highly toxic and super poisonous to one’s skin and later will be absorbed slowly into the body system through touch, inhalation and ingestion.
In cosmetic world, mercury is an effective ingredient that can do the job of skin whitening and bleaching excellently. Two common forms of inorganic mercury are mercurous (Hg+ ) and mercuric (Hg2+) salts (Park & Zheng 2012). Mercury salts block the production of melanin by replacing tyrosinase enzyme anions, resulting in a lighter skin tone, anti-freckle and anti-blemishes effects. This statement gives a strong reason why mercury is a common ingredient found in most skin whitening products such as lightening cream, day and night cream, soap, mask, etc. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mercury levels in skin lightening products should be less than one part per millions (ppm). Blinding the WHO requirement, in order to compete and win profitably, whitening product manufacturers formulate their products with high amount of mercury so the consumers will get lighter skin sooner. With high level of mercury, those products are highly toxic and super poisonous to one’s skin and later will be absorbed slowly into the body system through touch, inhalation and ingestion.
In Malaysia, there are thousands of whitening products that have been banned by Ministry of Health over the years due to high concentration of scheduled poison of mercury. Despite tight regulations and law enforcement on mercury prohibition, we still find thousands of local whitening products in the market, containing unacceptable high level of mercury. Many consumers are still helplessly defeated by these products’ bombastic marketing and promotions. In initial stage of using these harmful whitening cream, the users will get the most wanted effect of whitening instantly. Their skin will look so light, white, radiant and smooth like skin of an egg. But once the product is continuously used in long term, later they will get an extensive list of ugly side effects such as skin hyperpigmentation, slate-grey skin colour, rashes, blotchy spots, thin face skin, redness, burnt-like, etc.
All in all, prevention is better than cure. After knowing all the bad consequences of mercury exposure and poisoning, we should 100% avoid any kind of products containing mercury. Because once a damage is done, sometimes we could cure and reverse to normal state. But in some unlucky events, the damage is irreversible and become permanent. At that moment, it is already too late to regret.
