Not everything you buy on the Internet is legit, and a Melaka woman discovered this the hard way after a beauty product that she purchased online caused her face to swell to maximum effect.
Mastura Abu Bakar, 36, told The Star that she has used the product previously throughout the year, but the latest batch that she used on her face had recently been purchased via a college student online for about RM50 (US$12).
After using the product last Thursday night, she noticed her face becoming increasingly more red and itchy. As her cheeks swelled up, she was no longer able to open her eyes normally, and the pain and discomfort began to affect her sleep as well. By Saturday, her face had reached new levels of swelling and she went to Hospital Melaka.
Dr Aidil Azry Datuk Mokhtar, who treated Mastura, warned that the chemicals in creams such as whitening creams that work quickly contain corrosive and poisonous chemicals like mercury, hydroquinone, tretinoin, azelaic acid and betamethasone have detrimental effects on the user’s skin. This includes skin-thinning, redness, sensitivity, and increased risk of skin cancer.
He added that he had seen over 20 patients in the last year with skin problems relating to cosmetic skin creams, and advised consumers to be wary of any products that claimed to quickly “brighten” skin.
You don’t have to tell us here at Coconuts KL how much skin-whitening creams and drinks suck.
Mastura told reporters that she hopes that other people will learn from her experience and obsess less with their looks.
