Fairness creams fuelling surge in kidney problems

NEW DELHI: The use of fairness creams is driving a surge in kidney problems in India, according to a new study.

Driven by society’s obsession with fair skin, fairness creams have a lucrative market in India. However, the huge amount of mercury in these creams is known to harm the kidneys.

The study, published in the medical journal, ‘Kidney International’, showed that the increased use of fairness creams with high mercury content is driving cases of membranous nephropathy (MN), an autoimmune disease damaging kidney filters and causing protein leakage.

“Mercury gets absorbed through the skin, and wreaks havoc on kidney filters, leading to a surge in nephrotic syndrome cases,” one of the researchers, Dr Sajeesh Sivadas, Department of Nephrology, Aster MIMS Hospital, Kottakkal, Kerala, wrote in a post on X.

“These creams, widely available in India’s unregulated markets, promise quick results, but at what cost? Users often describe a disturbing addiction, as stopping usage leads to even darker skin,” he added.

The study examined 22 cases of MN reported between July 2021 and September 2023. The patients were presented to the hospital with symptoms that were often subtle with fatigue, mild edema, and increased frothing of urine.

Only three patients had gross edema, but all had elevated protein levels in their urine, while one developed a blood clot in the brain.

The findings showed that about 68 per cent (15 of 22) were positive for neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein (NELL-1) -- a rare form of MN that is more likely to be associated with malignancy. Of the 15, 13 admitted to using fairness creams before their symptom onset.

Of the rest, one had a history of use of traditional indigenous medicines while the other had no identifiable trigger.

“Most cases resolved on cessation of use of the inciting creams. This poses a potential public health risk, and it is imperative to spread public awareness about hazards of using such products and alert health authorities to curb this menace,” the researchers said in the paper.

Dr Sajeesh also blamed the social media influencers and actors “championing these creams” and “perpetuating their use in a multibillion-dollar industry”. “This isn’t just a skincare/kidney health issue; it’s a public health crisis… It’s time for immediate action to regulate these harmful products and protect public health,” he said.