MERCURY COMPOUNDS
TYPE OF INGREDIENT
Preservative, skin-lightener, contaminant
COMMONLY FOUND IN
Eye makeup, skin-lightening creams (outside of USA)
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MERCURY COMPOUNDS?
Mercury compounds are not legally allowed to be used in cosmetic products in the United States, with the exception of thiomersal and phenylmercury salts. These mercury compounds can be used as preservatives only in eye care products and only when there is not a better or safer alternative. The World Health Organization states the maximum allowable concentration in products is 1ug/g.
Mercury salts inhibit tyrosinase activity, reducing melanin formation, which is why they are used in skin lightening agents, particularly in products from Asia.
WHAT ARE MERCURY COMPOUNDS?
Mercury is a metallic compound found naturally in the environment, as well as produced as a pollution contaminant by industry. Organic forms of mercury can be found as contaminants due to improper purification during manufacturing, as a preservative in eye care products, or in unregulated anti-aging and skin lightening products, most commonly in Asia.
ARE MERCURY COMPOUNDS SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES AND TONES?
No. Mercury is highly toxic and there is no theoretically safe level of mercury exposure. While a single exposure is unlikely to have consequences, long-term, continuous use allows mercury concentrations to build within the body. Mercury accumulation within the body can result in nervous system, respiratory and immune toxicity. Mercury exposure in women of reproductive potential can result in birth defects. Even legal mercury compounds, such as thiomersal, are well-known causes of allergic contact dermatitis.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Mercury compounds should be avoided by everyone. Natural, unregulated cosmetics should be avoided due to their unknown concentrations of mercury and potential risk of mercury poisoning.
Sources:
Aleksandra Podgórska A, Puscion-Jakubik A, Grodzka A, Naliwajko SK, Markiewicz-Zukowska R, Socha K 2021. Natural and Conventional Cosmetics—Mercury Exposure Assessment. Molecules. 26: 4088.
Alam MF, Akhter M, Mazumder B, Ferdous A, Hossain MD, Dafader NC, Ahmed FT, Kundu SK, Taheri T, Atique Ullah AKM (2019). Journal of Analytical Science and Technology. 10:2.
