FDA warns against skin lightening creams

It said the creams including preparations such as Betnovate, Dermovate, Tenovate, Lemonvate, Epiderm, Dexacort have been registered by the FDA as Prescriptions-Only-Medicine (POMs) and as such should be sold or bought only on prescription of a qualified medical doctor.

FDA said the frequent, indiscriminate and prolonged use of such corticorsteriod-containing preparations are associated with risks including the following:

Thinning of the skin leading to difficulty in holding the skin during surgery.
Making the affected skin more prone to damage like bruising, development or worsening of acne and permanent stretch marks.
Hyperpigmentation, Glaucoma and even Cataracts upon prolonged applications to the eyelids.
Inhibition of the skin's ability to fight off bacterial or fungal infections.
Absorption into the blood stream and adversely affecting other parts of the body when applied widely on the skin.

READ MORE: FDA to ban skin bleaching creams

The statement further warned the public to desist from selling or buying such products from cosmetic shops, markets, hawkers, drug peddlers and from Pharmacies without the required prescription from qualified medical personnel.

It said any person found selling these POM preparations from shops or Pharmacies without prescription will face stringent regulatory sanctions.