The toxic chemical behind some skin products

Skin care is one of the fastest-growing beauty industries, with about 89% of Americans using skincare products at least once a week, according to a 2025 study.

While many of these products are safe, the pursuit of flawless skin can sometimes lead consumers to unknowingly expose themselves to a dangerous toxin: mercury.

What is mercury doing in skin care?

Mercury is most commonly found in skin-lightening products, explains Rummit K. Dhillon, DO, board-certified dermatologist at Loma Linda University Health and assistant professor of dermatology at Loma Linda University.

Mercury works by damaging melanocytes - the cells responsible for producing melanin -by targeting an enzyme called tyrosinase, which plays a key role in pigmentation.

"Because of its ability to disrupt melanin production, mercury is often added to skin-lightening products," Dhillon says.

"These are sometimes marketed as 'brightening,' 'fairness,' or 'fading' creams."

The manufacturing and sale of mercury-containing skin-lightening products is banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, products manufactured abroad are sometimes sold illegally in markets that cater to Latino, Asian, African, and Middle Eastern communities, according to the FDA.

If you see a product label that lists ingredients such as mercurous chloride, calomel, mercuric, mercurio, or mercury, it contains mercury, and you should stop using it immediately.

Dangers of mercury in skin care

Ryan Sinclair, PhD, MPH, professor of Environmental Microbiology at Loma Linda University, warns that skincare products containing mercury can have serious health consequences and may lead to mercury poisoning with prolonged use.

"Mercury absorption can be very poisonous, even in the smallest quantities," Sinclair says.

Symptoms of mercury exposure may include:

• Skin rash

• Vision or hearing loss

• Mood changes (irritability, shyness)

• Neurotoxicity

• Nephrotic syndrome

• Numbness and tingling