Skin-lightening creams containing “the biological equivalent of paint stripper” removed from sale

Skin-lightening creams containing 'the biological equivalent of paint stripper' have been removed from sale after a day of action by Rochdale Borough Council’s Trading Standards team.

Skin lightening products are largely marketed at men and women from black and minority ethnic groups, but can also be used to lighten blemishes and scars.

Trading Standards targeted imported cosmetic products, which can often contain banned ingredients such as hydroquinone, mercury or corticosteroids, putting unwitting consumers at risk of permanently ruining their looks or damaging their health.

Locally, three products were found to contain hydroquinone, described by the Local Government Association as 'the biological equivalent of paint stripper'.

Hydroquinone is a bleaching agent which can increase the risk of skin cancer as well as damaging internal organs. It is a common ingredient in illegal skin-lightening creams, which can sometimes fail to list their ingredients correctly.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council confirmed that the items have been removed from sale, and more have been sent for laboratory testing.

Products containing hydroquinone are banned from being sold to the general public in the UK because they can cause serious side effects if used incorrectly. However, it can be prescribed for use by a GP.

Side effects of using skin-lightening creams containing hydroquinone include kidney, liver or nerve damage; scarring; thinning of the skin. They can also cause skin to turn too light, or have the opposite effect and darken the complexion. If used during pregnancy, there is also the risk of abnormalities in newborn babies.

Irresponsible traders face prosecution and hefty fines if they are found selling illegal lotions.

Councillor Simon Blackburn, Chair of the LGA’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “These banned beauty products are being sold by unscrupulous traders who are more interested in making money than the health of their customers.

“Cosmetics should be safe to use, but banned lotions containing toxic formulas can act like paint stripper. This can cause irreversible skin damage, as well as damaging internal organs like the liver and increasing the risk of cancer. They could cost you your life and should be avoided at all costs.

“Because these illegal lotions are still being sold widely on the illegal market, largely without listing their harmful ingredients, consumers are at risk of buying them unaware of the dangers they pose.

“If the price looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Consumers should always check the ingredients of their skin creams and never use a product containing hydroquinone. If the product doesn’t display the ingredients at all, then consumers are also advised not to use it.

"Anyone who has purchased a cream they think could be banned should stop using it immediately and report it to their local Trading Standards team.

"It is vital that people report any concerns, so that our officers can take action to prevent anyone being harmed or scarred for life.”

Anyone who has concerns about a banned or counterfeit cosmetic product, or would like to report a trader selling such items, can contact Trading Standards by calling the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 or emailing trading.standards@rochdale.gov.uk.