Some skin lightening ingredients work extremely well in the short-term but are dangerous to our health and the long-term health of our skin. Mercury is one of them.
History of mercury use in skin lightening creams
The use of mercury in commercial skin bleaching creams and soaps goes back to the early 1900s. Before 1970, commercial bleaching creams would normally use ammoniated mercury to produce a lightening effect on the skin. These bleaching creams were aggressively marketed to black people in the US.
In 1976, the use of mercury in cosmetic products was banned in the EU. The US banned the use of mercury in skin bleaching creams much later in 1990.
Mercury absorption into the body via the skin
Mercury and mercurial compounds can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of the vapors, ingestion, or skin contact. As a poison, the damaging effects of mercury are subtle and cumulative, building up over time.
When absorbed, mercury has been discovered in blood, urine, bile, sweat, saliva, milk, and in pus on the surface of ulcers. It has also been discovered in the solids after death, in the brain, the bones, the cellular tissue, in serous membranes, in the parts close to the joints, and in the lungs and liver.
Mercury’s effects on the skin and overall health (symptoms of mercury poisoning / excessive mercury)
Mercury can be extremely effective in lightening dark spots and stubborn pigmentation but has a high spontaneous remission rate (in a number of people, the original pigmentation returns once the treatment is stopped).
The symptoms of mercury poisoning include emotional disturbances, unsteadiness, inflammation of the mouth and gums, general fatigue, memory loss, forgetfulness and headaches. It may also lead to kidney damage. Excess mercury in the system has been known to cause kidney problems (membranous nephropathy)
Skin contact with mercury compounds can lead to irritation, including patches of inflammation and the appearance of tiny bumps close together. These bumps may burst and discharge matter, which later crusts over leading to soreness and discomfort.
Essential Reading: What to do if you’ve been poisoned by mercury
Current skin lightening creams containing dangerous levels of mercury
While the use of mercury in skin lightening creams have been banned for some time now, they are still produced and sold in lightly-regulated markets. Below is a list of known skin lightening creams that contain dangerous levels of mercury (more than 1 ppm).
- Hua Ma ABC – Hua Ma Day Cream and Hua Ma Night Cream (link to article)
- Jiaoli (link with more information and pictures)
- Mui Lee Hiang – Cream for Acne & Blemishes (link with picture)
- Natural 99 yellow cream – day cream, Natural 99 white cream – night cream (link with pictures)
- Rose Super White Whitening Essence (link with picture)
- Whitening Sunblock Cream – Day Cream (link with picture)
- EMEL SKIN CARE CO. No. 8 (link with picture)
- Dermaline (link to 2009 FDA Import Alert for creams containing mercury)
- Miss Key Whitening Cream / Crema Bianqueadora Miss Key (link to 2009 FDA Import Alert for creams containing mercury)
- Santa Cream / Crema Santa (link to 2009 FDA Import Alert for creams containing mercury)
- Mannig Beauty Cream / Manning Cream De Belleza
- Is 8% mercury by weight
- Bioactive Facial Enlightening Activator
- Day and Night UV Expert
- Jin Sheng Mei (link with picture)
- Ginseng (Extra Pearl Cream)
- Orrefor (Extra Pearl Cream)
- Pally (Nourishing Cream)
- Bivong
- Butae (Pearl Cream)
- Silvana cream
- Ly-NA (Nourish face cream)
- ALFA (Extra Pearl cream)
- Yin Fong (Extra Pearl cream)
- Diana Cream
- April 2009 – Import refusal report by FDA for Diana Cream and Acne Soap because of “unapproved new drug”, Refusal AC1-6395152-1/38/1/. Unfortunately, no lab sample analysis was done.
- April 1997 – Article referencing Canada’s alert on Diana Cream’s mercury content
- April 2009 – Import refusal report by FDA for Diana Cream and Acne Soap because of “unapproved new drug”, Refusal AC1-6395152-1/38/1/. Unfortunately, no lab sample analysis was done.
- Civic (Nourishing cream)
- Ideal cream
- Melanax
- Cing-Cing (Roon Petch)
- Daifu (Herbal formula/pearl cream)
- Cream Minerva
- Stillmann’s Freckle Cream
- Has 39,000 mg/kg of mercury!
- Link to the EC’s Rapid Alert notification with picture
- Fasco Herbal Cream
- Has 440 mg/kg of mercury
- Link to the EC’s Rapid Alert notification with picture
- TOP-GEL MCA Cream
Most skin lightening creams containing mercury are either white or yellow in color. Unscrupulous manufacturers may also easily change their product names and packaging to evade the authorities. The packaging for skin whitening creams containing mercury would also usually not list mercury as one of its ingredients, although sometimes calomel is listed. Calomel is mercurous chloride, a type of mercury.
Creams containing dangerous levels of mercury |
Photos |
| Jiaoli Day and Night Cream |   |
| Mui Lee Hiang – Cream for Acne & Blemishes |  |
|
 |
| Rose Super White Whitening Essence |  |
| Whitening Sunblock Cream – Day Cream |  |
| EMEL SKIN CARE CO. No. 8 |  |
| Jin Sheng Mei |  |
| Stillmann’s Freckle cream |  |
| Fasco Herbal cream |  |
| TOP-GEL MCA Top Gel MCA Medicated Cream Top Gel MCA Extra Pearl Cream Top Gel MCA Skin Creme |
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More about mercury
Before mercury was discovered to be toxic, it was extensively prescribed as a medical treatment for various conditions such as jaundice, smallpox, syphilis, gonorrhea, venereal diseases and vitiligo.
- Ads for a skin bleaching cream called ‘Skin Success’ which contains mercury. Published in Ebony Magazine in 1966. Click to enlarge.
Global skin lightening market predicted to reach $10 billion by 2015
Scientists still can't figure out why humans got lighter
Sosa blames skin-colour change on moisturizer
Skin bleaching in Jamaica (video)
How light can my skin get?
Beware deceptive labeling in skin lightening creams
Images in Fair & Lovely ads are allegedly photoshopped or retouched
Bleaching and lightening products remain popular, but few admit to using them 
Bleaching in some parts of Africa is nothing less than a way of life
New York Times: Colorism is the new racism
Can you please tell me a recent study on Diana cream from Lebanon. I started using it but I’m worried about it’s mercury content
Hi Lidia, I have just updated the article to include more info on Diana Cream.
Unfortunately, I could not find a recent study confirming Diana Cream’s mercury content. However, in April 2009 the same cream (manufactured in Beirut, Lebanon) was denied importation into the US.
I think that amira cream may have mercury can you please check and also what about the monobenzone powders that come from asia….i have been using a combination the two and I have been hospitalized for kidney damages, can you please let me know if these agents are responsible??
Hi Shanon, I’m very sorry to hear about your kidney damage. I hope you’re recovering.
1) As for Amira Cream, there are a few similar sounding products which can create confusion (perhaps this is deliberate?).
- “Amira Skin Lightening Lotion” and “Amira Cream” both contain hydroquinone
- “Amira -C” contains mercury
Source: Kenya Bureau of Standards (KBS), a branch of the Kenyan government.
2) I would be very suspicious of “monobenzone powder” that’s sold in the raw or DIY-mixed form for several reasons, regardless of the source (China, India or elsewhere). Their manufacture and sales are unregulated, making any purchase extremely high-risk. If you still have the monobenzone powder, you might be able to get it tested at a lab so you’ll (and your doctor) will know for certain what caused your illness.
Hi,
I have been using Creme Diana for more than a year now and did not know that it was a cream used for bleaching the skin or that it has mercury. My mom gave me this cream because she knew I had dry skin and thought it might help (which it did). My skin colour did get brighter (just notice recently), but I could care less of my skin colour. I tried getting off this cream, but every time I do my face breaks out into hives, becomes hot and red/itchy and nothing else seems to calm my skin (I’ve used facial cleaners and creams that are meant for super sensitive skins, etc. such as Avene) and I end up going back on the stuff because I have work and can’t have my skin looking crazy. My skin gets super allergic to anything else.
Please help? Have you heard about these side effects? And what’s the best course of action/solution to this?
Do you know if luzza yusra herbal cream contains mercury?
Hi, Hessa. You are a wonderfully intelligent God Fearing spirit. Thanks for your contribution in this site and knowledge. Yes I have gotten checked by the doctors and even though they say they cannot find anything, I reamin with problems, I am in my mid=twenties and have pain still in my pubic areas and pain in my joints….I jst wanted clear skin being that I had to labor out in the sun growing up, i am horribly 3 toned complexioned….yet my features and bone structure are opposite my skin…
thank you…
I do thank God for life and will order today, a test to test this powder out as you said. And to be honest I am embarrassed to tell anyone other than my family about this…esp. a doctor “wink” that knows nothing about why I would do such a thing to myself. As of late, I view life differently…sad but hopeful!!
Hi Shanon, thanks so much for your kind words. I’m always happy when people find the information here useful.I’m happy that you’re taking the first step in finding out what could be the cause of your pain.
I’m also very sorry to hear about your pain and our health troubles. Please know that mercury chelation and a gradual recovery IS possible. In fact, something as simple and everyday as our diet can slowly reduce excess mercury and other poisons from our organs.
Certain raw fruits, herbs and vegetables have been shown to slowly mobilize and remove harmful metals such as mercury and lead from our bodies. For example, garlic and cilantro are excellent chelators. (If you haven’t already done so, the curezone forum is packed with helpful information about mercury chelation.)
p.s: Having skin issues myself, I can completely understand the embarrassment you describe feeling and perhaps even the loneliness of thinking that you’re the only person in the world with such troubles. But this is actually far from the truth. Even though this might offer little comfort, knowing that our situations isn’t unique might help a little in making our journeys seem a little less daunting.
hi hessa i was wondering if you know ,anything about the new yusra herbal cream they are, currently marketing as safe.it looks allot like fasco herbal cream.it seems suspicious to me that one can see results in a week.considering is meant 2 be herbal.
Hi laila, I couldn’t find any information about Yusra Herbal cream beyond the packaging and the marketing claim. I couldn’t find an ingredients list either.
By the way, it’s very easy for manufacturers to use an existing cream, put it in new packaging (add a ridiculous marketing claim) on the internet… no one is catching what they do or testing the products.
A good rule of thumb is that natural ingredients will not give such a drastic skin lightening effect in one week. All-natural methods will work slowly and gradually over at least a few months — so if something is working really well (lightening your skin by more than several shades in a month), it will probably have some chemical compounds in it, regardless of whether or not the seller chooses to disclose it honestly.
what if i stopped using it? ive been using jaoli cream for a year.. if i stop how can i be sure or how can i remove mercury level in my body..
im scared about the mercury level and the effects.. how can i remove or what wil i do… to make sure im stil safe..
Hi Nic, I am working on updating the article with some information about mercury removal. I hope this will help you and others.
Hi, I have included some information on how to remove mercury from the system in a separate article here: Three things you can do to remove mercury (mercury chelation)
hi, offlate i hv started using a cream known as st. dalfour which has been very effective but wanted to know if that contains mercury in it…
Hi Bindu, there’s no ingredients list available for ‘St Dalfour Whitening Cream’ and that alone sets off alarm bells.
Here’s what I can find:
- The website looks very dodgy. The cream bottles look like glass jars.
- The cream is only sold online. This is the favorite method of folks trying to evade product testing, manufacturing/export regulations and the authorities.
- There is an actual licensed brand called St. Dalfour, which is based in France and sells fine foods (jams in glass jars). It is completely unrelated to ‘St Dalfour Whitening Cream’, so I guess the name and packaging choice was the cream seller’s rather strange attempt at making themselves look and sound European/prestigious, and therefore legit. Unfortunately, this method is quite effective. The seller of the cream has also priced his/her products at a small premium, supporting the illusion of “it must be good if it costs this much”.
- There is an alarming absence of basic information about the company (if it is a company, it could very well just be a few people doing a home-based business) and its products: no ingredients list, no company contact information, no business registration number, no contact no, no address, no mention of this company and product outside of skin lightening forums and other dodgy sales sites.
Based on all the above, I would advise you to stop using the whitening cream immediately, at least until you can get more credible information about it.