Excess hydroquinone in bleaching creams harmful to health – NAFDAC warns
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a caution to users of bleaching creams to avoid products containing excessive levels of hydroquinone, as part of a broader effort to protect public health.
During an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Bauchi, NAFDAC’s Bauchi State Coordinator, Mr. Hamis Yahaya, stated, “The approved quantity of the chemical substance in cosmetics was only two percent.” He explained that while hydroquinone is utilized for treating skin conditions such as melasma and age spots, exceeding the safe limit can pose serious health risks.
Yahaya elaborated, “Applying creams with hydroquinone contents more than two percent is harmful. Mixing creams by non-experts is wrong.” He cautioned that prolonged exposure to high levels of hydroquinone can adversely affect users’ health, potentially leading to serious conditions, including cancer.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of melanin for natural skin protection, noting, “The black colour provides natural protection against harmful radiation.”
To combat the dangers associated with these products, Yahaya called on the media to raise awareness about the risks of using cosmetics that could endanger lives, asserting NAFDAC’s commitment to monitoring market products for public safety.
NAN
