PUBLIC ADVISORY
FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 1 April 2025: The Ministry of Health and Human Services (MoHHS), in response to a Health Canada advisory, is cautioning all local suppliers and the general public to discontinue the sale and/or use of certain unauthorised health products promoted for skin lightening and/or for treating skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. This advisory – borne out of a public health concern – is issued due to the serious health risks associated with the use of these products. A full list of the items can be found at https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/unauthorized-skin-lightening-and-skin-treatment-products-may-pose-serious-health-risks#wb-auto-64
The products in question – which are unauthorised in Canada – are labelled to contain or have been tested by Health Canada and found to contain dangerous ingredients. These products may pose various health dangers, including:
- containing active ingredients not listed on product labels (such as prescription drugs, that have possibly exceeded the maximum recommended doses).
- dangerous ingredients single or a combined (particularly drugs that should be available only by prescription, or a combination of ingredients that are not permitted because of serious health risks).
Crucially, the public is reminded that prescription drugs – which may cause serious side effects/adverse drug reactions – should be only be taken under the supervision of a duly registered and licenced healthcare prescriber. Critically, if consumers use these products unknowingly, it may increase the chance of dangerous allergies and interactions with other medications and foods. Some of these products were found to have ingredients such as aminocaproic acid, corticosteroids (betamethasone dipropionate, betamethasone valerate, clobetasol propionate, dexamethasone, fluocinonide and prednisolone valerate acetate), erythromycin, hydroquinone, ibuprofen piconol 3%, ketoconazole, neomycin sulphate, penicillin potassium, terbinafine hydrochloride and tretinoin.
The Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Kyle R. Knowles, and the Ministry of Health and Human Services’ top priority are to ensure public health safety, and so wish to advise consumers to stop using the mentioned products and contact their healthcare providers if they have any health concerns or for advice. Consumers may contact the Environmental Health Department at 338-2142 for more information on how best to dispose of these products. In addition, consumers should contact their pharmacist, physician or other healthcare provider if they have any questions or concerns, or have experienced any problems related to the use of these products. Consumers are also advised to report any side effects via the MoHHS’ Adverse Drug Reaction Form, which can be found at https://gov.tc/docs/ADR.pdf.
For further information, please contact André Morgan, National Pharmacist at: (649)338-3072 or amorgan@gov.tc.
