ABU DHABI // Skin-lightening products with more than a two per cent hydroquinone content should not be on shelves, the health authority has said.
Health Authority — Abu Dhabi has also warned pharmacies that hydroquinone can be sold only with a doctor’s prescription.
Outlets in Abu Dhabi that do sell the chemical, which is a common component of skin-lightening products, have to be registered with the Ministry of Health.
The health authority also urged pharmacies to alert it if they see anyone with side-effects related to the use of the compound.
Dr Nehad Nabil Halawa said it can pose a danger if the content is greater than two per cent, adding that the US Food and Drug Administration banned over-the-counter sales of cosmetic products with hydroquinone in 2006.
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