The Danish Health and Medicines Authority has received information about the dangerous skin lightening cream 'Bio Claire - Lightening Body Creme' sold by Danish online shops.
An analysis performed by the Austrian health authorities has established that the cream contains the active substance: clobetasol propionate 0.035% - a very strong corticosteroid (glucocorticoid) contained in several authorised prescription-only medicines used for the treatment of skin disorders, e.g. eczema and psoriasis.
We advise consumers who have used the skin lightening cream 'Bio Claire - Lightening Body Creme' to stop using it and to contact their doctor if they have any concerns.
If you have used the cream for a long time (e.g. several weeks), flare-ups of eczema or other skin disorders could occur when you stop the treatment suddenly. If this happens, we advise you to contact your doctor to discuss the treatment that is right for you.
The illegal medicinal product may be handed over to a pharmacy for destruction.
It is not declared on the package that the lightening cream contains the active ingredient clobetasol propionate 0.035%, and Danish consumers have no way of finding out that they are in fact buying and using a medicine that has not been authorised.
Normally, this type of medicine is only used on small areas of the skin and only in short courses. Using clobetasol locally on the skin can cause side effects such as thin skin, pigmentary changes, increased hair growth and worsening of skin infections.
