Skin-care cream ingredients spark warning
OTTAWA — Health Canada has issued a warning about PureCare Herbal Cream, a skin cream for babies and other children, that it says could pose “serious health risks.”
The federal agency says the herbal cream, which is promoted as a natural treatment for eczema and psoriasis in children and babies, contains a prescription steroid (clobetasol propionate) and another ingredient (phenoxylethanol) that are not declared on the label.
Health Canada says the ingredients might cause skin irritation, dehydration or increased blood pressure. It advises consumers to stop using the product and to check with a health-care professional if they have used it and have health concerns.
PureCare Herbal Cream Ltd. said in a statement posted on its Facebook page, where it goes by the name PureCare Skin, that Health Canada informed it that some clobetasol propionate is present in its product. PureCare Skin said it will share how much was present in each bottle after it receives the information from Health Canada.
The company is offering customers refunds as a result of the news.
It is also following up with its manufacturer, which the company alleges “expressly informed” it that “the product was all natural and free from any drugs or parabens.”
PureCare Skin did not respond to questions about what company manufactures the cream.
Health Canada says PureCare Herbal Cream was sold online at purecareskin.com and through an in-person distribution network.
The product has been sold with two different labels. The current label states the product is “for extremely dry skin” and the previous label says it is a “Herbal Cream for Eczema, Psoriasis & Dry Skin.”
Clobetasol propionate is described as a superhigh-potency topical steroidal prescription drug used to treat inflammatory conditions. It should be used only under medical supervision. Side effects include skin irritation, weakening or degeneration. The agency says phenoxylethanol can cause difficulty breathing, vomiting and diarrhea if ingested.
Health Canada said PureCare Herbal Cream Ltd. has stopped selling the product and asked the company to recall it from the market.
PureCare Skin said in its statement that customers can send their purchased products back with some identifying information and will receive a refund within four to six weeks.