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<p>People from all over the world use cosmetics to enhance their physical appearance, seeking social acceptance. Most locally produced skin-lightening creams used in developing countries are a mixture of fat and water applied to the skin surface. These Skin Lightening creams may pose a potential health risk due to their inclusion of various highly toxic active ingredients like hydroquinone, mercury, and steroids. This study quantifies the levels of these toxic substances in ten commonly used SLC brands in Pakistan and their associated health risks in samples marketed in Lahore. To determine the concentration levels of various ingredients, including hydroquinone, steroids (Betamethasone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, and Prednisolone), and mercury, high-performance liquid chromatography, ultra violet- high-performance liquid chromatography, and a direct mercury analyzer were used, respectively. Health risks were assessed by calculating Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ). Results showed that some samples exceeded international limits for hydroquinone (up to 5.56%) and mercury (up to 4.9 ppm), surpassing U.S Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The analysis also revealed undeclared corticosteroids in several samples: betamethasone (0.6–1.8% in 30% of samples), dexamethasone (1.4–6.4% in 20% of samples), hydrocortisone (0.4–8.5% in 50% of samples), and prednisolone (0.3–1.6% in 30% of samples). These findings suggest the need for improved regulatory enforcement in developing countries along with enhanced monitoring of Pakistan’s cosmetic industry to effectively protect public health from the cumulative toxicity of hydroquinone, mercury, and corticosteroids.</p>

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Health and Regulatory Assessment of Hydroquinone, Mercury and Steroids in Skin-Lightening Creams Marketed in Pakistan

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月23日

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  • Mahnoor Shujait,
  • M. Nawaz Ch,
  • Naqi Hussain

摘要

People from all over the world use cosmetics to enhance their physical appearance, seeking social acceptance. Most locally produced skin-lightening creams used in developing countries are a mixture of fat and water applied to the skin surface. These Skin Lightening creams may pose a potential health risk due to their inclusion of various highly toxic active ingredients like hydroquinone, mercury, and steroids. This study quantifies the levels of these toxic substances in ten commonly used SLC brands in Pakistan and their associated health risks in samples marketed in Lahore. To determine the concentration levels of various ingredients, including hydroquinone, steroids (Betamethasone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, and Prednisolone), and mercury, high-performance liquid chromatography, ultra violet- high-performance liquid chromatography, and a direct mercury analyzer were used, respectively. Health risks were assessed by calculating Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and Hazard Quotient (HQ). Results showed that some samples exceeded international limits for hydroquinone (up to 5.56%) and mercury (up to 4.9 ppm), surpassing U.S Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), and World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The analysis also revealed undeclared corticosteroids in several samples: betamethasone (0.6–1.8% in 30% of samples), dexamethasone (1.4–6.4% in 20% of samples), hydrocortisone (0.4–8.5% in 50% of samples), and prednisolone (0.3–1.6% in 30% of samples). These findings suggest the need for improved regulatory enforcement in developing countries along with enhanced monitoring of Pakistan’s cosmetic industry to effectively protect public health from the cumulative toxicity of hydroquinone, mercury, and corticosteroids.