Ivory Coast bans bleaching cream

[Mosiah]

Ivory Coast has banned skin-whitening creams, which are widely used in west Africa, because of fears they cause lasting damage to health, the health ministry said Wednesday.

“Cosmetic lightening and hygiene creams ... that depigment the skin ... are now forbidden,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ban affects whitening creams and lotions containing mercury and its derivatives, cortisone, vitamin A or more than two percent hydroquinine, a lightening agent that is used to develop photographs.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...itening-creams

[Mosiah]

Ivorians reject ban on bleaching cream

“I love light skin,” Fatou said. “I can’t stop.”

Many Ivorian women – as well as increasing numbers of men – are using creams despite their known health risks, defying a government ban introduced earlier this year.

The ban outlawed the sale of whitening products because of associated health problems, ranging in seriousness from white spots and acne to cancer. If applied liberally, the cosmetics can also cause high blood pressure and diabetes, according to Elidje Ekra, a dermatologist at Abidjan’s Treichville university hospital.

The banned products include creams containing mercury, steroids, vitamin A, or with hydroquinone levels above 2%.

Hydroquinone is often used in black and white photography and is banned as a skin-lightening ingredient in Europe, as it is considered a potential carcinogen.

Yet four months after the law introduced fines of between 50,000 and 350,000 CFA francs (£55-£380), salons are still advertising their lightening treatments.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ng-ban-effects

[Bricktop]

you get your news a year after everybody else...windows xp you using?

[Mosiah]

Windows? What's that?