4.6 Article

Spectrometric analysis of mercury content in 549 skin-lightening products: Is mercury toxicity a hidden global health hazard?

Journal

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
Volume 70, Issue 2, Pages 281-+

Publisher

MOSBY-ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2013.09.050

Keywords

allergic contact dermatitis; bleaching; consumer safety; melanotoxicity; mercury; mercury toxicity; skin lightening; skin whitening; whitening cream; x-ray fluorescence spectrometry

Categories

Funding

  1. SmartPractice
  2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Background: Cosmetic skin lightening is practiced worldwide. Mercury is a well-documented melanotoxin added to some lightening products. However, mercury can cause many dermatologic, renal, and neurologic problems. The Food and Drug Administration limits the amount of mercury in cosmetic products to trace amounts, 1 ppm. Objective: The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate a large international sample of lightening products for mercury content, focusing on products available to US consumers either online or in stores. Methods: A total of 549 skin-lightening products, manufactured in 32 countries, were purchased online in the United States, Taiwan, and Japan and in stores in the United States, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and Sri Lanka. Cosmetics were screened for mercury content above 200 ppm using a low-cost portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Results: Of the 549 tested products, 6.0% (n = 33) contained mercury above 1000 ppm. In all, 45% of mercury-containing samples contained mercury in excess of 10,000 ppm. Of lightening products purchased in the United States, 3.3% were found to contain mercury in excess of 1000 ppm. Limitations: Our study did not evaluate creams for other melanosuppressive ingredients. Only 1 sample of each product was tested. Conclusion: Our study confirms the national and global presence of mercury in skin-lightening products.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.6
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

Article Dermatology

Characteristics and common ultraviolet filter usage of sunscreens purchased online: Cross-cultural analysis across 5 continents

Chayada Chaiyabutr, Chutipon Pruksaeakanan, Supisara Wongdama, Suthasanee Prasertsook, Titinun Kumpangsin, Waranya Boonchai

Summary: This study investigated the sales and usage characteristics of sunscreen products in different regions around the world, and found that there are differences in the choices and preferences of sunscreen among different regions. Asia has the highest proportion of consumers choosing high sun protection factor (SPF) products, while Europe has the highest percentage of consumers purchasing <30 SPF products.

PHOTODERMATOLOGY PHOTOIMMUNOLOGY & PHOTOMEDICINE (2023)

Article Allergy

Trends in formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releaser contact allergies as compared with market exposure in Thailand

Waranya Boonchai, Chutipon Pruksaeakanan, Supisara Wongdama, Monthathip Bunyavaree, Titinun Kumpangsin, Chayada Chaiyabutr

Summary: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and trends of contact allergies to formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers (FRs) in Thailand, as well as analyze the frequency of formaldehyde and FRs mentioned on product labels. The results showed that while contact allergy trends were decreasing, the proportion of products containing FRs remained high.

CONTACT DERMATITIS (2023)

Letter Dermatology

Comparison of performance of SCORTEN, ABCD-10 and Re-SCORTEN in a cohort of patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis

Tyng-Shiuan Hsieh, Tom C. Chan, Yung-Tsu Cho, Chia-Yu Chu

JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY AND VENEREOLOGY (2023)

Article Medicine, General & Internal

Taiwanese dermatological association (TDA) consensus for the management of pemphigus

Chia-Yu Chu, Chih-Hung Lee, Hua-En Lee, Yung-Tsu Cho, Chao-Kai Hsu, Tom C. Chan, Song-Chou Hsieh, Kai-Che Wei

Summary: A consensus statement for the management of pemphigus was developed by a panel of dermatology experts from the Taiwanese Dermatological Association, providing practical recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of pemphigus patients in Taiwan.

JOURNAL OF THE FORMOSAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (2023)

Review Dermatology

Pimecrolimus for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Infants: An Asian Perspective

Chia-Yu Chu, Tsung-Chieh Yao, I. -Hsin Shih, Chin-Yi Yang, Chan Lee Chin, Sabeera Begum Binti Kader Ibrahim, Suganthi Thevarajah, Leong Kin Fon, Marco Hok-Kung Ho, Chow Chung Mo, Chow Pok Yu, Steven King-Fan Loo, Thomas Luger

Summary: Atopic dermatitis (AD) has seen an increase in incidence among pediatric patients in the Asia-Pacific region. Factors such as genetics, environment, and culture contribute to differences in clinical presentation and prevalence of AD among races. Early treatment, using topical corticosteroids (TCS) as first-line therapy, is important to prevent the development of comorbidities. Pimecrolimus, a topical calcineurin inhibitor (TCI) with less adverse effects than TCS, has been shown to be safe and effective in treating mild to moderate AD, but its use in infants is still restricted in some Asian countries.

DERMATOLOGY AND THERAPY (2023)

Editorial Material Dermatology

Utility of Allergen-Specific Patient-Directed Handouts Generated by Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer

Aditi Chandra, Matthew J. Davis, Dathan Hamann, Carsten R. Hamann

DERMATITIS (2023)

Article Genetics & Heredity

Post-acute phase and sequelae management of epidermal necrolysis: an international, multidisciplinary DELPHI-based consensus

S. Ingen-Housz-Oro, V. Schmidt, M. M. Ameri, R. Abe, A. Brassard, A. Mostaghimi, A. S. Paller, A. Romano, B. Didona, B. H. Kaffenberger, B. Ben Said, B. Y. H. Thong, B. Ramsay, E. Brezinova, B. Milpied, C. G. Mortz, C. Y. Chu, C. Sotozono, J. Gueudry, D. G. Fortune, S. M. Dridi, D. Tartar, G. Do-Pham, E. Gabison, E. J. Phillips, F. Lewis, C. Salavastru, B. Horvath, J. Dart, J. Setterfield, J. Newman, J. T. Schulz, A. Delcampe, K. Brockow, L. Seminario-Vidal, L. Joerg, M. P. Watson, M. Goncalo, M. Lucas, M. Torres, M. H. Noe, N. Hama, N. H. Shear, P. O'Reilly, P. Wolkenstein, P. Romanelli, R. P. Dodiuk-Gad, R. G. Micheletti, G. S. Tiplica, R. Sheridan, S. Rauz, S. Ahmad, S. L. Chua, T. H. Flynn, W. Pichler, S. T. Le, E. Maverakis, S. Walsh, L. E. French, M. C. Bruggen

Summary: This study used a DELPHI exercise to establish a multidisciplinary expert consensus on the management of SJS/TEN sequelae. After the survey, a consensus was obtained for 100% of the initially proposed statements. The final consensus will help guide physicians in conducting a prolonged multidisciplinary follow-up of sequelae in SJS-TEN.

ORPHANET JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES (2023)

Article Allergy

Epidemiology of adult patients with atopic dermatitis in AWARE 1: A second international

Jorge Maspero, Norma De Paula Motta Rubini, Jianzhong Zhang, Gloria Sanclemente, Julio Roberto Amador, Mahira Hamdy El Sayed, Alson Chan Wai Ming, Roni P. Dodiuk-Gad, Issam Hamadah, Suganthi Thevarajah, Catalina Rincon-Perez, Elena Fedenko, Yik Weng Yew, Mark B. Y. Tang, Chia-Yu Chu, Kanokvalai Kulthanan, Ozlem Su Kucuk, Anwar Al-Hammadi, Lysel Brignoli, Angelina Tsankova, Sarah El-Samad, Jose Eduardo Neves, Laurent Eckert

Summary: This study examines the prevalence and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) in adults from various countries/regions. The survey reveals that AD is a common and chronic condition in adults, highlighting its importance beyond childhood.

WORLD ALLERGY ORGANIZATION JOURNAL (2023)

Article Dermatology

Cotrimoxazole as a Preventative Intervention for Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Pemphigus Patients Treated with Rituximab: A Retrospective Study

Hao-Chen Hsu, Po-Wei Huang, Yung-Tsu Cho, Chia-Yu Chu

Summary: We conducted a single-centered retrospective study on pemphigus patients treated with rituximab, investigating the prophylactic efficacy and safety profile of cotrimoxazole. The results showed that the incidence of PJP in the prophylaxis group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the adverse reactions of cotrimoxazole were tolerable.

DERMATOLOGY AND THERAPY (2023)

Article Medicine, General & Internal

Dermatology and Venereology Consultation Pattern from Inpatient and Emergency Department in Tertiary Hospital Setting Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic

Shannaz Nadia Yusharyahya, Valdi Ven Japranata, Ratih Wulan Kusumahapsari, Lili Legiawati, Rinadewi Astriningrum, Karin Rachmani, Chia-Yu Chu

Summary: This study aimed to investigate the consultation pattern in dermatology and venereology from a tertiary hospital perspective during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that there was a slight increase in consultation requests during the pandemic era. One-time consultation was the most common type in both periods, with dermatitis being the most prevalent case and Gram staining being the most common examination. There were significant differences in decision conformity, diagnoses, appropriateness, and consult response time between the two groups.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL MEDICINE (2023)

Article Medicine, Research & Experimental

Baseline Demographics, Comorbidities, Treatment Patterns and Burden of Atopic Dermatitis in Adults and Adolescents from the GLOBOSTAD Long-Term Observational Study

Piergiacomo Calzavara-Pinton, Jarmila Celakovska, Hilde Lapeere, Gregor Holzer, Mona Al-Ahmad, Chia-Yu Chu, Silvia M. Ferrucci, Yoko Kataoka, Mariateresa Rossi, Daria S. Fomina, Wen-Hung Chung, Thrasyvoulos Tzellos, Anne-Claire Fougerousse, Jiangming Wu, Marius Ardeleanu, Zafer E. Ozturk

Summary: This study aimed to characterize patients receiving dupilumab for atopic dermatitis (AD) in a real-world setting. The findings showed that patients had a high disease burden before starting dupilumab treatment, and a significant proportion had type 2 inflammatory comorbidities.

ADVANCES IN THERAPY (2023)

Article Allergy

Nickel release from hairdressing tools in the United States

Cynthia X. Chan, Carsten R. Hamann

Summary: This study found that hairdressing tools in both rural and urban areas in the United States release nickel, which contributes to the high prevalence of contact dermatitis among hairdressers. Cheaper tools are more likely to release nickel. These findings highlight the need for clinicians to consider occupational nickel exposure when assessing patients with allergic contact dermatitis, emphasize the importance of using barrier protection, and support the implementation of legislation regulating common allergens.

CONTACT DERMATITIS (2023)

Article Allergy

Development and Validation of a Novel Score to Predict Mortality in Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: CRISTEN

Natsumi Hama, Yuma Sunaga, Hirotaka Ochiai, Akatsuki Kokaze, Hideaki Watanabe, Michiko Kurosawa, Hiroaki Azukizawa, Hideo Asada, Yuko Watanabe, Yukie Yamaguchi, Michiko Aihara, Yoshiko Mizukawa, Manabu Ohyama, Hideo Hashizume, Saeko Nakajima, Takashi Nomura, Kenji Kabashima, Mikiko Tohyama, Akito Hasegawa, Hayato Takahashi, Hiroki Mieno, Mayumi Ueta, Chie Sotozono, Hiroyuki Niihara, Eishin Morita, Marie-Charlotte Bruggen, Iris Motro Feingold, Marc G. Jeschke, Roni P. Dodiuk-Gad, Eva Maria Oppel, Lars E. French, Wei-Ti Chen, Wen-Hung Chung, Chia-Yu Chu, Hye-Ryun Kang, Saskia Ingen-Housz-Oro, Kazutoshi Nakamura, Hirohiko Sueki, Riichiro Abe

Summary: This study presents a novel score, CRISTEN, based on clinical information to predict mortality in patients with SJS/TEN in the early stages. It shows good discrimination and can guide the management and therapy of patients with SJS/TEN.

JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE (2023)

Article Medicine, General & Internal

Two Phase 3 Trials of Lebrikizumab for Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Jonathan I. Silverberg, Emma Guttman-Yassky, Diamant Thaci, Alan D. Irvine, Linda Stein Gold, Andrew Blauvelt, Eric L. Simpson, Chia-Yu Chu, Zhuqing Liu, Renata Gontijo Lima, Sreekumar G. Pillai, Julien Seneschal

Summary: The study shows that lebrikizumab is effective in treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in both adolescents and adults, with significant improvements in skin lesions and reduction of itch symptoms during the 16-week induction period.

NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE (2023)

Article Allergy

Gender differences in allergic contact dermatitis to common allergens

Waranya Boonchai, Surachanee Likittanasombat, Noldtawat Viriyaskultorn, Silada Kanokrungsee

Summary: The study found that females had a higher positive patch test rate than males, but males were more likely to develop occupationally related allergic contact dermatitis. Gender plays a pivotal role in contact dermatitis.

CONTACT DERMATITIS (2023)

No Data Available