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 In this section:

                Skin Facts! What You Need to Know About Skin Lightening Products

Skin Facts! What You Need to Know About Skin Lightening Products

                        About Skin Facts!
          Skin Facts! Resources
          Partner Toolkit
          Reagan-Udall Foundation Skin Lightening Products Listening Sessions Summary Home
          For Consumers
          Minority Health and Health Equity
          Skin Facts! What You Need to Know About Skin Lightening Products
          Partner ToolkitSkin Facts! What You Need to Know About Skin Lightening Products Partner Toolkit
  
  	
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About the Skin Facts! Initiative

The FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE) launched **Skin Facts!** to raise consumer awareness about potentially harmful effects from the use of skin lightening products containing the ingredients hydroquinone or mercury. These products are often marketed to racial and ethnic minority groups to lighten or “even” skin tone and treat conditions like dark spots, acne, and wrinkles. Regular application can lead to skin rashes, facial swelling, skin discoloration, and even poisoning. The over-the-counter sale of skin lightening products containing hydroquinone or mercury is illegal, and consumers are advised not to use these products due to health risks.

**Skin Facts!** resources provide helpful tips for avoiding products that may contain hydroquinone or mercury. We encourage consumers to report bad reactions from the use of skin lightening products to MedWatch, the FDA’s medical product safety reporting program, and consult with their health care provider for prescription medication to treat skin conditions.

The **Skin Facts!** Toolkit includes a list of social media messages and graphics to share with your social media audiences. You can also find resources at OMHHE’s **Skin Facts!** page, including a public service announcement and educational materials.

How To Use This Toolkit

**Share our messages and digital resources on social media.** Copy and paste our Twitter and Facebook messages into your social media posts for your audiences. You can use our initiative messages with the downloadable digital images and videos based on your preferences.

**Use the hashtag #FDASkinFacts to help promote the initiative.** Also consider using the secondary hashtag **#SkinLightening** to connect with consumers who use these products.

**Tag @FDAHealthEquity on Twitter to increase the reach of the initiative.**

**Follow us on social media!** U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE)

Facebook: U.S. Food and Drug Administration
	Twitter: @FDAHealthEquitySample Social Media Messages    Download Partner Toolkit

Twitter

Whether they are called skin bleaching creams or skin “lighteners,” “brighteners,” or “eveners,” they all have the potential to contain harmful ingredients. Get the skin facts at: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts. **#FDASkinFacts**
 Facebook

The use of nonprescription skin lightening products containing hydroquinone may cause blue-black skin discoloration (also known as ochronosis). Get the skin facts at: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts. **#FDASkinFacts #SkinLightening**




Help @FDAHealthEquity spread the word about harmful ingredients in some skin products. FDA Associate Commissioner for Minority Health RDML Richardae Araojo presents **#FDASkinFacts**: https://youtu.be/bTl60JKxUSc **#SkinLightening**
 Mercury is an odorless, invisible toxin used in illegal skin lightening products. Learn about the health risks of mercury and how to avoid exposure in skin lighteners: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts **#FDASkinFacts**




DYK? There are no legally marketed over-the-counter skin products containing hydroquinone. Learn about potential hydroquinone health risks at: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts. **#FDASkinFacts #SkinLightening**
 Buyer beware! Skin lightening products sold over the counter may contain ingredients that can damage your skin and harm your health. Learn what to look for on product labels here: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts **#FDASkinFacts**




The FDA has identified the harmful toxin mercury in some skin products. Visit www.fda.gov/SkinFacts to learn how you can avoid health risks from mercury exposure. **#FDASkinFacts**
 Cosmetics marketed to treat dark spots may contain mercury. Mercury is a harmful toxin that is absorbed through the skin and may build up in the body. Visit www.fda.gov/SkinFacts to learn how to avoid these products. **#FDASkinFacts #SkinLightening**




Skin products may contain mercury and can cause mercury poisoning. Visit www.fda.gov/SkinFacts to learn more about mercury poisoning and how to avoid dangerous products. **#FDASkinFacts**
 DYK? Mercury is a harmful toxin found in some skin creams. Learn more about harmful ingredients in skin lightening products from FDA Associate Commissioner for Minority Health, RDML Richardae Araojo: https://youtu.be/bTl60JKxUSc. **#FDASkinFacts #SkinLightening**




Learn about the @FDAHealthEquity Skin Facts! Initiative to help educate consumers about the potential health risks of hydroquinone and mercury in skin products: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts. **#FDASkinFacts**
 The FDA requires imported skin products to have labels listing their ingredients in English. Always check labels for potentially harmful ingredients like hydroquinone or mercury before buying. And get the skin facts at: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts. **#FDASkinFacts #SkinLightening**




Skin products marketed to correct uneven skin tone may contain harmful ingredients. Checking product labels is one way to stay safe. Learn how at www.fda.gov/SkinFacts. **#FDASkinFacts**
 What goes on your skin, goes in your body! Just like food labels, you should check the labels of skin products for harmful ingredients. Get the skin facts at: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts. **#FDASkinFacts**




Do you use skin products for “evening” your skin tone? Some of these products may contain ingredients that could harm your health. Learn more: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts **#FDASkinFacts #SkinLightening**
 If you experience a bad reaction when using a skin product, please report that information to the FDA using MedWatch. Learn more: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts **#FDASkinFacts #SkinLightening**




DYK? Some online websites sell skin products that are not FDA-approved for sale in the US. Learn how to identify and avoid illegal skin lightening products: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts. **#FDASkinFacts**
 Do you know someone who uses skin lightening products? Share our resources on the potential health risks of products with certain ingredients that are sold online or in stores. www.fda.gov/SkinFacts **#FDASkinFacts**




We can’t assume that skin lightening products sold in stores or online are safe. Products may contain potentially harmful ingredients like hydroquinone or mercury. Be sure to check the labels! Learn more: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts **#FDASkinFacts**
 A skin product containing hydroquinone can only be obtained through a prescription from a health care provider. Learn more: www.fda.gov/SkinFacts **#FDASkinFacts**


Digital Resources    Download Partner Toolkit



Only use skin products prescribed by a health care provider can contain hydroquinone.
**Download**
 Hydroquinone is an active ingredient found in some skin products and may cause discoloration of the skin (ochronosis).
**Download**




The FDA has received reports of serious side effects including skin rashes, facial swelling, and skin discoloration from the use of illegal skin products containing hydroquinone.
**Download**
 The sale of over-the-counter skin products containing hydroquinone is not approved by the FDA. Consult with a health care provider for a prescription medication with hydroquinone.
**Download**




Skin lightening products with hydroquinone are not FDA-approved for over-the-counter sale in the U.S.
**Download**
 Skin products that contain mercury may be harmful. Call your health care provider or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if you have been exposed to a skin product with mercury.
**Download**




Using a skin product containing mercury may pose a hazard to all members of your household. Mercury is a harmful toxin that releases vapors into the air and can be spread on surfaces like towels and doorknobs.
**Download**
 Some skin “evening” products may contain toxic mercury. Be sure to avoid products with these terms on the label: mercury, mercurous chloride, calomel, mercuric, mercurio, Hg.
**Download**




DYK? Skin lightening products illegally sold in the U.S. may contain potentially harmful ingredients such as hydroquinone.
**Download**
 DYK? The use of mercury in skin lightening products is banned by the FDA.
**Download**




Do you check labels before purchasing skin products? You may be at risk of serious side effects from the use of skin lightening products containing hydroquinone or mercury. Be sure to check the label before purchasing to avoid these ingredients.
**Download**
 Do you check labels before purchasing skin products? You may be at risk of serious side effects from the use of skin lightening products containing hydroquinone or mercury. Be sure to check the label before purchasing to avoid these ingredients.
**Download**




Be wary of skin “evening” products advertised on social media. These products may contain harmful ingredients like hydroquinone or mercury.
**Download**
 Be wary of skin “evening” products advertised on social media. These products may contain harmful ingredients like hydroquinone or mercury.
**Download**




DYK? Because of health risks, many countries including the U.S. have banned the sale of skin products containing mercury.
**Download**
 Do you know where your skin lightening product came from? Avoid products with: no labels, handmade labels, or labels in languages other than English. They might be illegally marketed in the U.S.
**Download**




Do you use skin products marketed to: Lighten skin? Correct uneven skin tone? Remove age spots, freckles, blemishes, acne, or wrinkles? These products may be skin lighteners that contain ingredients that may be harmful to your health.
**Download**
 Skin lighteners are often sold illegally across the nation, in stores for Hispanic, Asian, African, or Middle Eastern communities.
**Download**




Skin lightening products are often marketed to racial and ethnic minority groups. Some of these products contain potentially harmful ingredients.
**Download**
 Skin lightening products are often marketed to racial and ethnic minority groups. Some of these products contain potentially harmful ingredients.
**Download**




Skin Facts! What You Need to Know About Skin Lightening Products www.fda.gov/SkinFacts
**Download**
 Skin Facts! What You Need to Know About Skin Lightening Products www.fda.gov/SkinFacts
**Download**




Skin Product Safety: Identifying Unsafe Products
**Download**
 Skin Product Safety: Hydroquinone
**Download**




Skin Product Safety: Mercury
**Download**

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      05/04/2023
              
              
Topic(s)
			  Consumer HealthHealth Topic(s)
			  Skin
			    			       			    			       Skin Care
			       			    			       Skin ConditionsSkin Facts! What You Need to Know About Skin Lightening Products

          
                        About Skin Facts!
          Skin Facts! Resources
          Partner Toolkit
          Reagan-Udall Foundation Skin Lightening Products Listening Sessions Summary
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