WASHINGTON — A skin cream boasting the ability to remove wrinkles, dark circles and acne could be dangerous and make people very sick, local officials warn.
The product is Crema Aguamary from Mexico. It’s a skin-bleaching or skin-treating cream that looks like thick mud.
The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene says the cream contains very high levels of mercury and has led to at least one case of mercury poisoning in the state of Maryland.
Other reports of mercury poisoning have been cited in New York City, California and Texas, all tied to Crema Aguamary.
Dr. Clifford Mitchell, with the Maryland Department of Health, says mercury poisoning is very dangerous.
“It can cause problems with your skin, your kidneys, your nervous system and your digestive tract,” he says.
Unborn babies, infants and children are especially sensitive to the effects of mercury. Use of these products by pregnant women and nursing mothers is of special concern.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibits the sale of facial products or skin-bleaching products containing mercury in the U.S. But since the cream in question comes from Mexico, there’s little the department can do.
If you’ve used this or any other product containing mercury, Dr. Mitchell stop using it immediately. He says if you think you may have exposed to mercury, contact your doctor or health provider. You could also contact your local or state health department. Since the state isn’t testing the mercury, Dr. Mitchell says you don’t have to save the product.
“Just seal the product in a plastic bag and put it in the trash,” he says.
Consumers can also contact the Maryland Poison Center toll free at 1-800-222-1222 or the DHMH Center for Environmental Health and Community Services toll-free at 1-866-703-3266.
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