Products found to contain undeclared medicines
|
| |
| Singapore: HSA Alert: Two health products from dubious sources led to burns in a consumer and hospitalisation in another |
| |
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) is alerting members of the public not to purchase or use the following two health products: ‘URE (有利) TONIC HERBAL TRADITIONAL (传统青草营养素)’ sold by a traditional practitioner in Malaysia; and unlabelled brown bottles of facial solution from the ‘Anita iBrow’ beauty parlour at 11 Orchard Road #B1-42 Dhoby Exchange Singapore 238826. Both products led to serious adverse reactions – one consumer was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and the other suffered facial chemical burns.
HSA has tested the products and found that they contain potent western medicinal ingredients which are prohibited in these products: ‘URE (有利) TONIC HERBAL TRADITIONAL (传统青草营养素)’ contained dexamethasone (a potent steroid); and the solution in the unlabelled brown glass bottles contained hydroquinone and tretinoin.
A female consumer in her 50s had purchased ‘URE (有利) TONIC HERBAL TRADITIONAL (传统青草营养素)’ from a traditional practitioner in Malaysia. After taking it daily for more than a year to ‘strengthen’ her body, she developed Cushing’s syndrome, a condition caused by prolonged consumption of steroids. She suffered complications such as persistent low blood pressure and a weakened immune system, which resulted in pneumonia and sepsis, a life-threatening condition that involves tissue and organ injuries. She was admitted to the ICU for treatment and is currently undergoing outpatient care.
Another female consumer in her 20s visited ‘Anita iBrow’ beauty parlour in Orchard Road for a make-up session, which included the use of a facial solution. According to the beautician, the facial solution was ‘RDL HYDROQUINONE TRETINOIN Babyface Solution 3’, which she had purchased from an online platform for use on her customers. She had poured the facial solution into two unlabelled brown glass bottles and sold them to the consumer as ‘magic water’ to brighten up her skin. After two to three days of daily application, the consumer experienced superficial chemical burns and skin peeling. Her skin had darkened and turned red and itchy, requiring treatment by a skin specialist. HSA has directed the beautician to stop using and supplying the solution. The beautician is currently assisting in the investigation.
Please refer to the following website in HSA for details:
http://www.hsa.gov.sg/content/hsa/../uretonicherbalandanitaibrow.html
In Hong Kong, the above products are not registered pharmaceutical products.
Ends/Tuesday, Jan 23, 2018
Issued at HKT 15:00
|
| |
|
