The CEO of Depilex Smile Again Foundation, an organisation helping acid and kerosene burn victims Women, has advised the women striving to achieve fair skin complexion to remain careful regarding the whitening creams because inferior quality products contain dangerous ingredients, causing adverse side-effects to their skin.
Musarrat Misbah made this advice at a press conference at Karachi Press Club Thursday.
"Every woman wants to have a fair and charming skin as it is considered a social standard for beauty in our culture, she said, adding that it compelled them to apply whitening creams on their faces. She said that sometime said this habit bring them a lasting misery.
Without naming she said that scores of local companies are currently manufacturing 'substandard' whitening products that contain hazardous ingredients for skins.
She said that there is no relevant law or any regulatory authority to monitor and have a proper check over production and sale of such items. She also apprehended that the frequent use of inferior whitening creams may permanently damage the reproductive system.
Musarrat called for mandatory standardisation of skin creams in the country to protect the health of consumers.
"The need for regulation is highlighted by recent international media reports that have exposed a number of Pakistan-made creams as being poisonous for consumers." she cited indicating that the creams contain a dangerous mix of chemicals that have been proved to be harmful to consumers because of the high levels of mercury.
She said that it also maligned the reputation of Pakistan and could affect the country's trade relations with countries across the world.
"Over the last few years, doctors across Pakistan have witnessed an increasing number of skin diseases resulting from prolonged use of substandard skin whitening creams despite the research done by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Islamabad in 2016 verifying its harmful effects."
Dr Abrar, who is part of PSQCA's technical committee as private sector representative, said the authority has taken decisive action to define a standard for skin creams. He said that in 2016, the PSQCA finalized 'PS-3228/201 - Skin Creams' and this standard currently allows skin cream manufacturers to voluntarily adopt manufacturing practices that are in line with global standards.
It is now important that these standards become mandatory to ensure that the consumers in Pakistan and our industrial reputation be protected.