Skin lightening cosmetics are one of the fastest-growing products that address the people’s desire to lighter skin. The active ingredients to the skin lightening cosmetic products have the function to inhibit melanogenesis process under skin resulting less melanin content. Among them, inorganic mercury salts inhibit melanin formation by competing with copper in tyrosinase enzyme.
Despite extensive research on mercury-containing skin lightening products in various countries, Myanmar remains an unexplored region in this context. This survey aims to examine the market situation of skin lightening cosmetic products in Myanmar for the first time and assess the possible risks of chemical exposures by them.
