PRETTY DEADLY HEALTH experts weighing in on the New Straits Times Special Probes Team’s investigation into the ‘killer cosmetics’ of the home-grown beauty industry are stunned by the wanton use of banned substances and complete disregard for its effects
DANGEROUS COSMETICS: Experts drew direct correlation between sustained use and deterioration of health
HEALTH experts have come up with a chilling scientific conclusion on how using unregulated and chemically-laced “backyard industry” beauty products can cause serious health issues in no time.
This is based on their analyses of several cosmetic products, including some of the more popular ones in this small-medium scale, homegrown industry, which revealed alarmingly high concentrations of harmful and banned substances.
The samples were sent in by the New Straits Times Special Probes Team.
These experts said in most cases, many of the products analysed can increase the likelihood of users developing kidney failure in roughly five years. Cancer will develop with long-term exposure.
These doctors, who helped the Special Probes Team to interpret lab analyses on several potentially lethal cosmetic products, also strongly believe that sustained use of the products can lead to death.
Earlier tests that the team had commissioned with four independent laboratories revealed that these popular cosmetics, some made locally while others were brought in from countries like China, Thailand and Korea, contained banned, hazardous substances, although they were not reflected in the labels.
Among the dangerous chemicals were cadmium, chromium, lead, arsenic, mercury and hydroquinone — chemicals that the Health Ministry had imposed a blanket ban on their use in cosmetics.
Results of the analyses were then shared with these experts to, among others, establish the effects of bioaccumulation from prolonged use of the hazardous cosmetics to an Individual’s Health Index and Lifetime Cancer Risk.
The readings, the experts warned, do not even include the “involuntary intake” of daily hazardous compounds that an individual is already exposed to, from, among others, adulterated food and polluted air.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre’s environmental health physician and toxicologist, Associate Professor Dr Mohd Hasni Ja’afar, who drew the link to the possible effects of cosmetics containing heavy metals on the human body, is shocked to find that one particularly popular beauty injection product can potentially increase the risk of developing chronic illnesses in users by up to 200 times in just five years.
This, he links to the dangerous high levels of lead found in the product. The injectable product, like many of its kind in the market which promise users fast results, also contain carcinogens like cadmium, arsenic and chromium.
The analysis of two other beauty creams, sourced from supermarkets, was equally startling.
The dose of mercury found in 10g tubs of both brands can increase the risk of getting chronic illnesses within five years — including brain damage — by up to 22 times.
“Mercury is the most common substance used as a bleaching agent to whiten the skin.
“Its absorption rate is a whopping 80 per cent, depending on the skin condition... it gets worse with oily or damaged skin.
“Mercury in that form penetrates the skin, goes into our blood, and finally accumulates in our main organs, causing problems such as liver and kidney failure,” he said, adding that severe mercury poisoning can also lead to a neurological syndrome called Minamata disease.
Dr Hasni warned that high levels of mercury deposits in the human body can be fatal as it disrupts the function of neurotransmitters that affect the musculoskeletal system, lungs, heart and brain. It also damages the kidneys’ structure.
The doctor’s worry over the prevalence of hazardous cosmetics in the market and the huge demand for these products has prompted him to ini- tiate a medical study soon on the 100 cases of sudden deaths that his hospital alone had seen this year.
“They (the deceased) had no prior medical conditions, their hearts just stopped... the statistics of young heart patients are also increasing every year.
“My advice to consumers is to know the contents of the cosmetics you buy and avoid using those containing high levels of heavy metals as it will compromise your system,” he said.
Meanwhile, a dermatologist at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Dr Azura Mohd Affandi, cautioned that the uncontrolled number of cosmetic products containing hazardous substances in the market, including hydroquinone, may result in a spike of cancer cases in the country.
“The possibility (of an increase in cancer statistics) is real. If you keep on using hazardous products containing hydroquinone, for example, it will remove melanin from the skin, which is supposed to protect this largest organ of yours from cancer due to UV (ultraviolet) radiation.
“And we are not just talking about skin cancer. Products that contain mercury, lead and other harmful metals can also cause other types of cancer, including breast cancer.
“Statistics on cancer years ago may not be as high as they are now. Why? Maybe it is because of our improved detection methods or public awareness, but is it really just that?” she asked during a discussion with the team.
Dr Azura shared her experiences on cases involving the use of hydroquinone in cosmetics that led to a serious skin disease known as Ochronosis.
“Although hydroquinone is banned in cosmetics, we actually prescribe this medicine to our patients, but normally at a certain dosage and only for a short time.
“Normally we don’t prescribe it for more than six months as it can cause the users’ skin to become greyish blue, a condition called Ochronosis.
“Sadly, there is no cure for this condition,” she said.
Dr Azura also advised the public to study the ingredients in their cosmetic products and avoid being influenced by testimonials given by sellers.
“The demand is high for cheap and fake cosmetics, like those sold at night markets.
“Be wary that they are sometimes exposed to sunlight, and improper storage can also cause the cosmetics to be oxidised and deteriorate.
“Do not fall for promises of immediate results from these beauty products... there is no such magic,” cautioned Dr Azura, who has treated many patients with complications arising from exposure to these deadly cosmetics.