Skin-lightening creams: banned mercury products still available on marketplaces

More than twenty skin-lightening creams listed as banned due to mercury content were still available online in early September, according to a Reuters investigation published on September 16, 2026. This finding is concerning because mercury was not listed on the labels of the identified products.

As of September 1, these products were accessible on U.S. marketplaces including Amazon, Temu, and TikTok Shop, as well as on Amazon marketplaces in France, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Belgium, according to Reuters. The agency did not chemically retest each purchased item, but the products in question had already been flagged by authorities or regulatory bodies. Amazon, Temu, and TikTok stated that they prohibit these products and are taking steps to remove reported listings.

The issue persists despite a strengthened international framework. The Minamata Convention on Mercury prohibits cosmetics containing added mercury, including soaps and creams intended for skin lightening. However, the United Nations Environment Programme emphasizes that these products continue to be promoted and sold online, particularly when sellers change their names, branding, or presentation after a removal.

From a health perspective, the World Health Organization associates mercury exposure with potential damage to the kidneys and nervous system, as well as skin problems. The WHO also highlights a particular risk during pregnancy and for child development. These effects pertain to exposure to mercury itself and do not allow for conclusions about the safety of a skin-lightening cream without an analysis of its composition.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends monitoring several terms on labels, including “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “Hg.” However, the Reuters investigation illustrates the limitations of this verification, as the identified products did not declare mercury among their ingredients. An incomplete label, an untraceable manufacturer, a seller without accountability, or a product already mentioned in a health alert should weigh more heavily than a promise of quick results.

This issue directly impacts Africa. The WHO indicates that mercury-containing lightening products continue to be used in several African, Asian, and Caribbean countries. The Gabon has notably participated in an international program conducted with the WHO, the UNEP, and the Global Environment Facility to better regulate the market, enhance controls, and reduce exposure.

On May 5, 2026, the WHO released a tool for countries to better understand the social and commercial drivers of these practices. This tool was launched on February 25 in Panama City during a workshop that brought together representatives from health and environment ministries from several countries.