Skin lightening cream often misused

NEW YORK, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Skin-lightening creams can mean severe side effects for people who misuse them or buy counterfeit products, U.S. dermatologists said.

People of African and Hispanic descent, among others, obtain the creams from dermatologists or buy them over-the-counter in beauty shops, ethnic groceries and online, The New York Times reported Saturday.

The creams, with names like Hyprogel and Fair & White, can cause acne when misused and weaken skin, dermatologists said. Mercury, which can damage the nervous system, has been found in counterfeit products.

There is a strong demand for the creams, said dermatologist Erin Gilbert of the Downstate Medical Center in New York's Brooklyn borough. Gilbert said she and her colleagues see cases of severe side effects from the creams each week.

Many users believe lighter skin will elevate their standing in society, said Evelyn Nakano Glenn, who teachers gender studies at the University of California-Berkeley.

"It's not some fantasy," Glenn said. "There is prejudice against dark-skinned people, especially women in the so-called marriage market."