Consumers should not to use skin creams, beauty and antiseptic soaps, or lotions that might contain mercury, U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials warn

The products are marketed as skin lighteners and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, freckles, blemishes and wrinkles, says Gary Coody, national health fraud coordinator in the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Regulatory Affairs.

Adolescents also may use these products as acne treatments, adds Coody. Products with this toxic metal have been found in at least seven states.

Click on image for photos of more products

The products are manufactured abroad and sold illegally in the United States—often in shops in Latino, Asian, African or Middle Eastern neighborhoods and online.

Consumers may also have bought them in another country and brought them back to the U.S. for personal use.

“If you have a product that matches these descriptions (and others listed below), stop using it immediately,” says Coody.

Signs and Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

• irritability
• shyness
• tremors
• changes in vision or hearing
• memory problems
• depression
• numbness and tingling in hands, feet or around mouth

Source: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

“Even though these products are promoted as cosmetics, they also may be unapproved new drugs under the law,” says Linda Katz, M.D., director of FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors. FDA does not allow mercury in drugs or in cosmetics, except under very specific conditions, which these products do not meet.

“Sellers and distributors should not market these illegal products and may be subject to enforcement action, which could include seizure of the products and other legal sanctions,” says attorney Brad Pace, J.D., of the Heath Fraud and Consumer Outreach Branch within FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Dangers of Mercury

“Exposure to mercury can have serious health consequences,” says Charles Lee, M.D., a senior medical advisor at FDA. “It can damage the kidneys and the nervous system, and interfere with the development of the brain in unborn children and very young children.”

You don’t have to use the product yourself to be affected, says FDA toxicologist Mike Bolger, Ph.D. “People—particularly children—can get mercury in their bodies from breathing in mercury vapors if a member of the household uses a skin cream containing mercury.” Infants and small children can ingest mercury if they touch their parents who have used these products, get cream on their hands and then put their hands and fingers into their mouth, which they are prone to do, adds Bolger.

How to Protect Yourself

• Check the label of any skin lightening, anti-aging or other skin product you use. If you see the words “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury,” stop using the product immediately.

• If there is no label or no ingredients are listed, do not use the product. Federal law requires that ingredients be listed on the label of any cosmetic or drug.

• Don’t use products labeled in languages other than English unless English labeling is also provided.

• If you suspect you have been using a product with mercury, stop using it immediately. Thoroughly wash your hands and any other parts of your body that have come in contact with the product. Contact your health care professional or a medical care clinic for advice.

• If you have questions, call your health care professional or the Poison Center  at 1-800-222-1222; it is open 24 hours a day.

• Before throwing out a product that may contain mercury, seal it in a plastic bag or leak-proof container. Check with your local environmental, health or solid waste agency for disposal instructions. Some communities have special collections or other options for disposing of household hazardous waste.

Tracking Skin Products Containing Mercury

Investigations in the past few years by FDA and state health officials have turned up more than 35 products that contain unacceptable levels of mercury.

FDA continues to add mercury-containing skin products to its import alerts, which authorize the agency’s field staff to refuse admission of shipments of these products.

But this is only a partial solution, says Coody. “Many of these products are coming into the country through channels we can’t easily track, such as international mail and personal baggage.

That’s why it’s so important for consumers and sellers to know about the dangers of possible mercury poisoning associated with the use of these skin products.”

Texas health officials say samples of face cream they tested contained mercury up to 131,000 times the allowable level. And a teenager in southern Texas who used a mercury-containing skin cream was recently hospitalized for mercury poisoning.

In Northern California, a 39-year old woman had more than 100 times the average amount of mercury in her urine and had symptoms of mercury poisoning, according to the California Department of Public Health.

For three years, the woman and her husband had been using an unlabeled mercury-containing face cream that was brought into the U.S. from Mexico by a relative.

Several other family members who did not use the cream, including a four-year-old child, also had elevated levels of mercury in their bodies.

Virginia, Maryland, and New York have also seen cases of elevated mercury levels in people exposed to skin products containing mercury.

In Minnesota, 11 of 27 imported skin products taken from store shelves contained mercury . Photos of some illegal mercury-containing products are shown here:

• Minnesota Department of Health 
• Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Update page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

March 6, 2012

“Bugs,” the two year old boy said as he pointed to an irritated patch of skin on his face. Mary Leitao looked closer, and although she found no visible insects, she was startled to find colored fibers sprouting from her son’s skin. It was a summer evening in 2001 that would change the lives of the Leitao family for years to come.

A medical researcher turned stay-at home mom, Leitao had never seen anything like it and neither had her husband, Edward, an internist at South Allegheny Internal Medicine.  Mary Leitao took her son to be examined by numerous doctors, but none provided a satisfactory explanation. Many suggested that it was a form of psychosis called “delusional infestation” or the conviction of being infected with parasites.

Images from the CDC study in PLoS One

Believing instead that she had discovered a new disease, Leitao named the condition Morgellons and in 2004 established a non-profit organization called the Morgellons Research Foundation (MRF).

Through the efforts of the MRF, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) conducted a three-year government study to research Morgellons.

The results, released last week, indicated that there was no diseased organisms or parasites present in the 115 case-patients.

The protruding fibers were found to be mostly skin fragments or clothing fibers stuck to the skin.

According to the report, the physical ailments were manifestations of “delusional infestation.”

From a recent article in WebMD, individuals with delusional infestation tend to be hyper-aware of normal body sensations and interpret them as medical illness.  The article notes, “This stress has real physical effects on the body and leads to a spiral of worsening physical symptoms…”

The suggestion that thoughts and stress can be manifested as physical maladies may be counterintuitive to anatomy-based medicine, but research increasingly supports the idea. For instance, The Washington Post reported, ”Nocebos[inert pills provided with a negative expectation] often cause a physical effect, but it’s not a physically produced effect,” said Irving Kirsch, a psychologist at the University of Connecticut in Storrs who studies the ways that expectations influence what people experience.

The CDC study, published by the open-access journal PLoS One, is available online.

The CDC also has an information page about Morgellons Disease.

The idea that the condition may be more mental than physical has always been unpopular among those who identify themselves with the disease. It has impelled them to fight on two fronts – working to gain credibility and help from the medical community and fighting the unfortunate stigma of mental illness.  With the significant setback of the CDC report, how many may be wondering, what next?  

I have compassion for those suffering from Morgellons.  No one should have to live with the painful symptoms or the mental anguish of feeling isolated, abandoned and uncared for. Yet, perhaps it’s time to consider the mental nature of the condition. Yet, perhaps it’s time to consider the mental nature of the condition. But I’m not proposing psychotherapy – but a spiritual approach.”

For instance, in the recent Jan. 29 issue of the Concord Monitor, a woman describes her recovery from disease as she changed her thought to a more prayerful perspective.  Shifting thought away from the body to seeking a greater understanding of her spiritual nature worked for her.

As the mental factors of many diseases become more widely understood, spiritual treatments, such as Christian Science, that focus on thought can be a valuable resource. The MRF website reports that fear and hopelessness are common among those who suffer from Morgellons. Working spiritually to lessen and eliminate these unhealthy mental states may be the best next step.

This article first appeared on Blogcritics.

A retired architect, Bill Scott writes about spirituality and health for Blogcritics.org and also serves as the Christian Science Committee on Publication for Washington State.

Under the new rules announced today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), only those products that pass the agency’s test for protection against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can labeled as “Broad Spectrum” and claim to help prevent sunburn, reduce the risk of skin cancer, and reduce the risk of early skin aging.

Both UVB and UVA radiation contribute to sunburn, skin cancer, and premature skin aging. Sunburn is primarily caused by UVB radiation.

Products that have sun protection factor (SPF) values between 2 and 14 may be labeled as Broad Spectrum if they pass the required test, the FDA said, “but only products that are labeled both as Broad Spectrum with SPF values of 15 or higher may state that they reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging, when used as directed.”

“We want consumers to understand that not all sunscreens are created equal,” Lydia said Velazquez, PharmD, in FDA’s Division of Nonprescription Regulation Development.

Any product that is not Broad Spectrum, or that is Broad Spectrum but has an SPF between 2 to 14, will be required to have a warning stating that the product has not been shown to help prevent skin cancer or early skin aging, the FDA said.

Dr. Knox

Minor & James Medical, a multi-specialty physician group located in Seattle, Bellevue and Mercer Island, recently added dermatology to its list of specialties.

New Minor & James Medical dermatologist, John M. Knox, M.D., is board certified in dermatology and specializes in skin cancer and all conditions affecting the skin, hair and nails.

The dermatology division will be located at the First Hill Medical Building at 515 Minor Ave. in Seattle. The dermatology clinic is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

For more information or to schedule an appointment:

• Call 206-386-9540.

Melanoma -- NCI/Photo

Although this is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention month, to protect yourself against these common cancers you should take time every month to check your skin for new or changing moles, says Dr. Don Kern, a dermatologist at Seattle’s Polyclinic.

While sun protection and avoidance of peak hours are the best ways to prevent skin cancer, early detection is your next line of defense and can offer the best chance for successful treatment, says Dr. Kern.

Often a loved one can more easily notice suspicious moles or growths in hard to see places, like the back of your thighs, middle of your back, behind your ears, buttocks, and the back of your neck.

Dr. Kern

“Although your wedding vows didn’t say so, checking your partner for new or changing moles should be among the promises you make,” Dr. Kern said..

If looking at moles solo, mirrors can make it possible to check out otherwise “blind spots” for growths, said Dr. Kern, and be sure to check the soles of your feet, back of arms and even between your toes.

How can you identify a suspicious mole from a benign mole?

Dr. Kern suggests that you use the ABCDs to help determine if the growth might be cancerous. If you notice a mole that exhibits any of the following features, it should be examined by a physician.

Look for:

• Asymmetrical shape? A common mole should by symmetrical, whether it’s oval or round.

• Border is irregular or poorly defined? The border of a noncancerous mole should be smooth like a balloon—not jagged like the coast of Maine.

• Color of the mole is varied? Two shades of a color counts as two colors in this case.

• Diameter greater than 6 mm? The diameter shouldn’t be larger than a pencil eraser.

But even if the mole doesn’t display any of the ABCDs, it may still need to be examined by a physician, said Dr. Kern.  “Most moles appear on our skin by early adulthood, and once a mole develops, it shouldn’t change in size, shape, height, or color. If you notice a new mole or a growth that appears to be growing or changing, get it looked at.”

Skin cancer affects the lives of more and more people each year; but with better awareness, diligent screening, and prompt treatment, outcomes can be greatly improved for many people, he said.

The Polyclinic is made up of more than 160 physicians, including internal medicine, family medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, and 23 additional medical and surgical specialties.  Since its inception in 1917, The Polyclinic’s mission has been to promote the health of its patients through high-quality, comprehensive and personalized care.  For more information, visit www.polyclinic.com.