European Knight
07-24-2015, 05:55 AM
IVORY Coast has banned skin whitening creams, which are widely used in west Africa, because of fears they cause lasting damage to health, the health ministry said Wednesday.
“Cosmetic lightening and hygiene creams… that de-pigment the skin… are now forbidden,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ban affects whitening creams and lotions containing mercury and its derivatives, cortisone, vitamin A or more than 2% hydroquinine, a lightening agent that is used to develop photographs.
“The number of people with side effects caused by these medicines is really high,” said Christian Doudouko, a member of Ivory Coast’s pharmaceutical authority, warning that they could cause skin cancer.
Lightening products can also lead to hypertension and diabetes, said Elidje Ekra, a dermatologist at the Treichville university hospital in Abidjan.
Whitening creams have been popular for years among young African women, who see them as a way to make themselves more attractive.
- See more at: Govt Bans Skin Whitening Creams: Ivory Coast | ZimEye (http://www.zimeye.com/govt-bans-skin-whitening-creams-ivory-coast/#sthash.zuZoheU8.dpuf)
http://www.zimeye.com/http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images/2015/05/skin-whitening.jpg
“Cosmetic lightening and hygiene creams… that de-pigment the skin… are now forbidden,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ban affects whitening creams and lotions containing mercury and its derivatives, cortisone, vitamin A or more than 2% hydroquinine, a lightening agent that is used to develop photographs.
“The number of people with side effects caused by these medicines is really high,” said Christian Doudouko, a member of Ivory Coast’s pharmaceutical authority, warning that they could cause skin cancer.
Lightening products can also lead to hypertension and diabetes, said Elidje Ekra, a dermatologist at the Treichville university hospital in Abidjan.
Whitening creams have been popular for years among young African women, who see them as a way to make themselves more attractive.
- See more at: Govt Bans Skin Whitening Creams: Ivory Coast | ZimEye (http://www.zimeye.com/govt-bans-skin-whitening-creams-ivory-coast/#sthash.zuZoheU8.dpuf)
http://www.zimeye.com/http://www.zimeye.com/wp-content/live_images/2015/05/skin-whitening.jpg