Fairness creams not to be sold sans doctor’s prescription: FDA

The dermatologists in the city are concerned about the rising number of patients who have been reported for the skin problems which caused after using the steroid-based fairness creams.

After getting a several complaints regarding the steroid-based fairness creams, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and doctors have written a letter to the Central Drug Control Authority asking that these creams should be given only when they have prescription from doctor.

The commissioner of the Maharashtra FDA said that in most cases, they buy the cream over-the-counter without consulting a doctor due to which it leads to irreversible skin conditions.

“While conducting the investigation, we came across several fairness creams that have a high amount of steroids. As per the rules, the cream containing steroids are to be sold as drugs with a proper doctor’s prescription,” added Dr. Harshdeep Kamble, the commissioner,

Dr. Kamble further stated that as there are no specific rules for the usage of steroids externally due to which many of the brands openly advertise the products.

“We have written to the central body to make it compulsory to get a prescription to buy such products and have asked to put restrictions on this,” added Dr. Kamble.

A member of Indian Association of Dermatologist, Venereologist and Leprologist, said that steroids are used in the face cream by many companies to increase fairness due to which the skin become thin and face gets red.

“Steroid-containing creams can cause several skin diseases, like thinning of the skin, pimples, burning sensation. It also makes the skin vulnerable to sun exposure. In fact, girls can also develop facial hair that will be irreversible, even if they were to stop using the cream,” added Dr. R. Kamat.

In 2015, the FDA had sent a notice to Torque Pharma, which manufactures UB Fair cream for men, asking that the steroid-based cream no longer be sold over the counter.