• Experts cite high mercury content impacting foetus, long-term impact on child’s learning/memory/physicality/behaviours

Health authorities warned about the adverse impacts of pregnant women’s use of skin-whitening creams during pregnancy on the health of the developing foetus.

Noting this, Health Ministry’s Health Promotion Bureau’s (HPB) community health specialist Dr. Ajith Alagiyawanna said that the child could, in the long run, experience difficulties with regard to learning, memory, physical activities, and behaviours. 

He discussed this issue during a press briefing held by the HPB yesterday (18). The discussion focused on skin-whitening creams containing mercury and the adverse impacts of being exposed to mercury. 

Dr. Alagiyawanna cautioned about skin-whitening creams that have not been registered according to the applicable procedures and can be easily obtained via online platforms despite not having an assurance about the quality. He explained that many of these products contain a significantly higher amount of mercury than approved.