Cancer danger lurks on cosmetics shops shelves

By , K24 Digital
On Fri, 2 Aug, 2019 11:30 | 2 mins read
Betty Muindi

 Several cosmetic products banned for containing substances that can cause cancer are still on sale in Kenya.

A spot check in cosmetics shops and supermarkets in Nairobi found soaps, creams and lotions being sold freely despite the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) banning them nearly a decade ago.

At a popular cosmetics shop in Nairobi’s city centre, Leah Wanjiku, a hair stylist and beautician, pulls 16 cosmetic products from the shelves to restock her salon. 

The products, which she purchases monthly are her customers’ favourites. They range from hair oils, makeup, hand moisturisers, shampoo, soaps, gels, nail polish among other items used for facials, pedicure, manicure and hair food.

The products are available in most stores in the city and retail for as low as Sh150 to Sh2,000.

However, unknown to Wanjiku and her clients, this is not just the cost of procuring a wrinkle or acne remover, it could also be the cost of exposing themselves to health risks, including cancer.

It turns out a number of other chemical ingredients with links to breast cancer and other adverse health effects continue to be used in cosmetics and personal care products. Examples include short chain parabens used as preservatives and phthalates used as fragrances.

Parabens, listed under a variety of names, typically ending in ‘-paraben,’ such as Methyl-paraben, Propyl-paraben, Butyl-paraben, Ethyl-paraben are synthetic chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food. 

A 2004 study found the substances in breast cancer tissue, reigniting concern about the chemicals. 

The authors of a study published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology reported that 18 of 20 tumour samples contained small amounts of parabens.

As a result, many beauty and personal care products have been using the phrase “paraben-free” for marketing.

Further down River Road and other downtown streets, skin care preparations such as creams, lotions, gels, soaps containing hydroquinone, steroids and hormonal preparations banned in the country are on the shelves.

In pharmacies, the most popular cream listed as a medicine but dispensed as a cosmetic over the counter is Mediven.

Banned alongside Mediven by Kebs are Betnovate, a potent steroid cream another most abused medication in the country. Diprosone, Nerisone, Hydrocortisone, 0xy 5 and 0xy 10 were also banned.

Dr Peter Mbwiiri, the Director of Product Evaluation and Registration at Pharmacies and Poisons Board admits some skin medications are used as cosmetics without supervision due to ignorance by users. 

He says skin treatment ointments and lotions are potent