Dangers of skin lightening creams

A case report published in this week's edition of The Lancet describes the clinical case of a 28-year old woman who, in spite of careful eating, had gained 12,7 kg in three years. She had also been trying to conceive, unsuccessfully, for 18 months. She said that she had stripes on her arms and back and was bruising easily and had recurrent vaginal thrush.

The doctors who examined her noticed that she had a fat pad on her neck and accumulated fat around the abdomen, a round face and dark stria all over her body.

The intitial diagnosis was Cushing's syndrome, but blood tests showed very low levels of cortisol and corticotrophin. When she was asked again about drugs she admited to using a skin lightening cream for seven years - bought from a shop that was not authorised to sell it (in London, UK). She was using around two tubes a week. These creams can contain toxic substances, such as steroids and hydroxiquinone - and patients do not realise that the creams are dangerous.