Certain skin-lightening or acne creams from Mexico have caused multiple cases of mercury poisoning throughout California. Cream users purchased the products on the street in California cities through informal networks of friends or they brought them into the USA from Mexico. These non-commercial creams are used for lightening the skin; fading freckles, blemishes, and age spots; and treating acne. Products usually come in plastic containers that either have no label or have hand-made labels (see photos on page 3). Read more on CDPH: Mercury Poisoning Linked to Use of Skin-Lightening Creams from Mexico.
Category
Alert