Skin-Bleaching Cream Leads to Cushing’s Syndrome for One Woman

A 28-year-old woman developed Cushing’s syndrome after using illegal skin-lightening creams prompting United Kingdom doctors to issue a warning about the dangers of using such products. illegal skin bleaching leads to disease Illegal skin-lightening creams usually contain hydroxyquinone, a skin-bleaching chemical as well as high doses of steroids. The use of hydroxyquinone is banned in UK cosmetic products because it causes severe skin irritation. The high doses of steroids found in illegal creams should only be available by prescription because they can cause a serious disruption to the body’s hormone levels.

The patient, who is black, had thin, bruised skin and mild hair growth on her back and face as well as muscle weakness. She had been using the two tubes (about 60 grams) of the skin-lightening creams for seven years. Doctors diagnosed her with Cushing’s syndrome, which is caused by high levels of steroid hormones such as cortisol in the blood. The disorder is usually caused by a problem with the adrenal glands, which make the hormones, or with the pituitary gland sending too high of a signal to the adrenal glands.
Doctors said that people who are using these creams should not stop immediately because their bodies will no longer be making enough hormones since it is getting them from the creams. Instead they should go see their regular doctor who can refer them to an endocrinologist.