Health Ministry bans sale of five cosmetics

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has revoked the notification of five cosmetic products as they were found to contain scheduled poisons and are no longer allowed to be sold in Malaysia.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said the products involved are Skinsister Babyskin Treatment Cream, Sahaana Fairness Cream, Skinmade AZ & Salicylic Acid + Licorice Root Serum, Glowing Night Cream and Glowing Herba Night Cream.

He said that Skinsister Babyskin Treatment Cream and Sahaana Fairness Cream were found to contain mercury, while Skinmade AZ & Salicylic Acid + Licorice Root Serum contains azelaic acid.

Glowing Night Cream was found to contain hydroquinone, tretinoin and betamethasone 17-valerate, while Glowing Herba Night Cream contains mercury and betamethasone 17-valerate, he said in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 24).

“Mercury is prohibited in cosmetic products because it can be harmful to health, leading to kidney and nervous system damage, disrupting the development of a child’s or fetus’s brain, and causing rashes and skin irritation.

“Products containing azelaic acid, hydroquinone, tretinoin and betamethasone 17-valerate need to be registered with the Drug Control Authority and should only be used under the guidance of healthcare professionals,” he said.

He added that azelaic acid can cause the skin to experience a burning sensation, itching, redness, peeling and changes in colour.

Hydroquinone can cause skin redness, discomfort, skin discolouration and hypersensitivity. It can also inhibit the pigmentation process (depigmentation), which reduces the skin’s protection from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation and increases the risk of skin cancer.

Dr Muhammad Radzi said that the unmonitored use of tretinoin can cause skin redness, discomfort, stinging, peeling and hypersensitivity to sunlight.

Betamethasone 17-Valerate can cause the skin to become thin and prone to irritation, acne, changes in skin pigmentation and increase the risk of being absorbed into the blood circulation system, which can have harmful effects, he said.

He urged sellers and distributors to stop selling and distributing the cosmetic products immediately as it violates the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.

Any individual who commits the offence can be fined up to RM25,000 or imprisoned not more than three years or both for the first offence and fined RM50,000 or jailed not more than five years or both for subsequent offences.

A company found guilty can be fined up to RM50,000 for the first offence and RM100,000 for subsequent offences.

“Consumers are advised to stop using the products immediately and seek the advice of healthcare professionals if they experience any discomfort or adverse effects,” he said.

The public is encouraged to check the notification status of a cosmetic product at the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) official website at www.npra.gov.my or through the ‘NPRA Product Status’ application that can be downloaded from Google Play Store. – BK