Eczema cream from Malaysia retail website found with arsenic over 430 times of permitted limit: HSA

SINGAPORE — An eczema cream, which is sold on a Malaysian retail website and on e-commerce platform Carousell, was found to have contained over 430 times the permitted limits of arsenic, a toxic metal that can cause skin irritations and poisoning.

In a media release on Tuesday (21 November), the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) warned users of Euzema Confidence Revival Cream to see a doctor "as soon as possible". Besides arsenic, HSA said the cream also a potent steroid which can cause serious health hazards.

The cream was among four products that were recently found on retail platforms to contain potent or banned ingredients.

Man in 30s developed purplish red spots from skin bleeding

Following a year of using the eczema cream, a man in his 30s developed a skin reaction called purpura, where purplish red spots appear due to small bleeds under the skin. His doctor had reported the findings to HSA on suspicion that the adverse skin reaction was caused by realgar, a mineral containing arsenic that was labelled on the cream.

The cream was purchased from a retail website based in Malaysia, which claimed that it "was able to beat eczema for good with this powerful natural formula", "is steroid-free", "contains 100% all-natural herbs" and "has no side-effects".

After testing, HSA found the cream contained over 430 times the allowed limits of arsenic. It also contained very high levels of betamethasone - a potent steroid - and salicylic acid.

Arsenic can cause skin irritations with symptoms such as rashes and blisters, or rashes resulting in skin peeling. Widespread, prolonged application of products containing high levels of arsenic may even lead to arsenic poisoning.

Betamethasone, on the other hand, should only be used under strict medical supervision, as it can cause serious adverse effects if used inappropriately. Usually prescribed for inflammatory conditions, it can cause hypersensitivity reactions and thinning of the skin. If absorbed into the body, it can cause Cushing’s syndrome, which is characterised by a round face, upper body obesity with thin limbs and high blood pressure.

"Long-term steroid use can suppress the body’s production of steroids, and sudden stopping without medical supervision may cause serious withdrawal symptoms, such as adrenal insufficiency leading to confusion, muscle and joint pain, low blood pressure and fits or shocks," HSA said.

Meanwhile, salicylic acid is used to treat common skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis and dandruff, and could lead to dry, irritated and red skin if used in high amounts.

Three other weight loss products contained potent or banned ingredients

HSA also received feedback from the public about the sale of three weight loss products – HONEY Q dietary supplement product, Slime 7D Advance slimming pill and FINOs. One consumer had experienced vomiting and headache after taking FINOs.

All three products claimed to be "herbal and natural" and were sold on local e-commerce and social media platforms such as Lazada, Qoo10, Shopee and eBay. Slime 7D Advance slimming pill also claimed to have "no banned substances".

Contrary to product claims, HSA tested and detected potent medicinal ingredients, including sibutramine, benzyl sibutramine, fluoxetine and orlistat among these products. Sibutramine has been banned in Singapore since 2010 because of increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. It was previously a prescription-only medicine for weight loss.

"The use of sibutramine and benzyl sibutramine may cause serious adverse effects, including high blood pressure, increased heart rate, anxiety and heart attacks," said HSA.

Fluoxetine is a prescription-only medicine that should only be used under medical supervision, while orlistat is a pharmacy-only medicine that should be used under the supervision of a pharmacist or doctor, added the authority.

Affected listings removed

HSA has worked with local platform administrators to remove the affected listings, with two sellers assisting with investigations. It has also also alerted its Malaysian counterpart about the products, as they were labelled to be manufactured and sold by sellers or websites based in Malaysia.

Consumers are advised to stop taking all three weight loss products immediately, and to consult a doctor if they feel unwell or are concerned about their health.

The authority also advised consumers to be wary of products that promise miraculous recovery from chronic medical conditions, claim to "contain 100 per cent all-natural herbs/ingredients", or have no side effects. Such products may contain undeclared ingredients that may harm your health, it said.

The public are also advised to exercise caution when buying products from unknown or unfamiliar sources online, and to only buy from reputable pharmacies or retailers’ websites.

Adulterated products are often manufactured under poor conditions with no quality control. Different batches of the same product may contain variable amounts of ingredients and different types of adulterants, said HSA.

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

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