HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
PRESS RELEASE
26 AUGUST 2024

HSA ALERT: “TOUCH SKIN BY DERMACARE SKIN RELIEF
TREATMENT CREAM” DETECTED TO CONTAIN POTENT STEROID;CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SEVERE SKIN REACTIONSThe Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is alerting members of the public not topurchase or use “Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream”. The cream
was touted to soothe eczema, chickenpox and insect bites. However, HSA’s test
revealed that the cream contained a potent steroid (betamethasone valerate) whichshould be used under medical supervision. A consumer in her 50s suffered severe
skin reactions from the use of the cream. Please refer to Annex A for photos of theconsumer’s skin reaction and the product.

2The consumer had been using “Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief

Treatment Cream” for about 8 years for her sensitive facial skin and would experience
flare-ups (a sudden worsening of symptoms) whenever she stopped applying thecream. She had purchased the cream from a shop in Orchard Road and continued
buying it from the seller via WhatsApp after the physical shop closed in 2020. In May
2024, she saw that HSA alerted the public to a similar product “Special Skin
Treatment” 1 found to be adulterated with a steroid and sold on the website
touchskin.com.sg. She immediately stopped the use of “Touch Skin by DermaCare
Skin Relief Treatment Cream”. Two days after stopping use, she developed red,sensitive and itchy skin on her face and consulted a doctor. The doctor found her skin
to be severely inflamed, sensitive to sunlight, and thinned-out with telangiectasia(spider veins) and reported the adverse event to HSA.

1 https://www.hsa.gov.sg/announcements/press-release/hsa-alert--three-products-found-with-potent-

medicinal-ingredients

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3

HSA's investigations revealed that “Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief

Treatment Cream” and “Special Skin Treatment” cream were sold by the same seller.
HSA had earlier tested “Special Skin Treatment” to contain a potent steroid (clobetasolpropionate). Investigations are ongoing.

Harmful effects from unsupervised use of potent steroids

4

Betamethasone valerate is a potent steroid usually prescribed for inflammatory

conditions. Creams containing potent steroids for the treatment of skin conditions
should only be used under medical supervision. Long-term unsupervised use of suchcreams can cause hypersensitivity reactions, thinning of the skin and topical steroid
withdrawal syndrome (burning, itching and redness following sudden stopping of
prolonged use of topical steroids). They may also be absorbed into the body and cause
serious adverse effects when applied to large areas of the skin or used over a
prolonged period. These adverse effects include high blood pressure, cataracts,
muscular and bone disorders, an increased risk of infections and Cushing’s syndrome(a round face or ‘moon face’ appearance and upper body obesity with thin limbs).

5Consumers should be alert to the dangers of purchasing skin creams fromdubious, unfamiliar or online sources. From 2022 to July 2024, HSA had detected anincreased number of creams marketed for skin conditions (e.g., rash, eczema andpsoriasis) adulterated with steroids and other potent medicinal ingredients. Thesecreams are “Touch Skin by DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream”, “Special Skin
Treatment” cream, “Star Cream”, “JolicareTM” (Original, Baby and Collagen), “Tao Ju
Hui Yi Mei Li Shang Kou Hu Li Ruan Gao” (“淘聚汇益美丽伤口护理软膏 ”) and“EUZEMA Confidence Revival Cream”2,3. The majority of the creams were used inyoung children. As young children are more susceptible to the effects of adulterants
such as steroids, they suffered serious adverse effects from the use of these creams.
The creams were sold on websites, e-commerce platforms, social media platforms,
and in one case, by a peddler in a makeshift stall.

2 https://www.hsa.gov.sg/announcements/press-release/2022summary
3 https://www.hsa.gov.sg/announcements/press-release/hsa-annualsummary2023

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Advisory to consumers

6Consumers are advised to:•See a doctor as soon as possible if you are using “Touch Skin by
DermaCare Skin Relief Treatment Cream” (or any of the creams mentionedabove). Sudden stopping of the steroid-containing creams without medical
supervision may worsen underlying skin conditions or cause topical steroid
withdrawal symptoms such as burning, redness, itching or peeling of skin.

•Consult a healthcare professional if you need help managing your chronicskin condition instead of risking your health with use of unfamiliar skinproducts.

•Exercise caution when buying products from dubious, unfamiliar or online
sources, as you cannot be certain where and how these products weremade and whether they have been adulterated with harmful ingredients.
Adulterated products are often manufactured under poor conditions with noquality control, and different batches of the same product may containvariable amounts of ingredients and/or different types of adulterants.

•When buying health products online, only buy from reputable pharmacies orretailers’ websites, or those with an established retail presence inSingapore.

Advisory to sellers and suppliers

7All sellers and suppliers must stop selling these products immediately. HSA will

not hesitate to take stern enforcement actions against anyone who sells and supplies
products found to be adulterated with steroids. Sellers and suppliers are liable toprosecution and if convicted, may be imprisoned for up to 3 years and/or fined up to$100,000.

8Members of the public who have any information on the sale and supply ofthese illegal products may contact HSA’s Enforcement Branch at Tel: 6866-3485
during office hours (Monday to Friday) or email: hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg.

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HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
26 AUGUST 2024

About the Health Sciences Authority (HSA)The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) applies medical, pharmaceutical and scientificexpertise through its three professional groups, Health Products Regulation, Blood
Services and Applied Sciences, to protect and advance national health and safety.
HSA is a multidisciplinary authority. It serves as the national regulator for healthproducts, ensuring they are wisely regulated to meet standards of safety, quality andefficacy. As the national blood service, it is responsible for providing a safe andadequate blood supply. It also applies specialised scientific, forensic, investigative andanalytical capabilities in serving the administration of justice. For more details, visit
http://www.hsa.gov.sg/.
Formoreupdatesonpublichealthandsafety

matters,

follow

usatwww.twitter.com/HSAsg.
About HSA’s Health Products Regulation GroupThe Health Products Regulation Group (HPRG) of HSA ensures that medicines,
innovative therapeutics, medical devices and health-related products are wisely
regulated and meet appropriate safety, quality and efficacy standards. It contributes
to the development of biomedical sciences in Singapore by administering a robust,scientific and responsive regulatory framework.

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ANNEX A

HSA ALERT: “TOUCH SKIN BY DERMACARE SKIN RELIEF
TREATMENT CREAM” DETECTED TO CONTAIN POTENT STEROID;CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SEVERE SKIN REACTIONSPhoto of consumer’s skin reaction on face and neck

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Photos of the product tested by HSA“Touch Skin by Dermacare Skin Relief Treatment Cream”

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