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Letters to the Editor

Perils of using fake cosmetics

August 15, 2022 00:00:00


Fake cosmetics are available in abundance in Bangladesh. These products are widely sold in markets in the capital and elsewhere in the guise of well-known foreign and local brands. Some of these cosmetics are spurious and even date-expired. If used regularly, such substandard and fake cosmetic products could potentially cause many diseases, including skin cancer as they reportedly contain harmful heavy metals and chemicals. Not only are the fake cosmetics substandard, cosmetics of many companies also pose serious health hazards as researchers found excessive level of mercury, lead, chromium and cadmium in fairness creams and other cosmetic products available in the market.

There seems to be no rules in the country for regulating the cosmetics business. Also, there are reportedly no regulations for setting up beauty parlours, neither are there rules to check advertisements that make tall claims about growing hair or turning skin colour from dark to fair. People are being exposed to different diseases due to the use of wrong cosmetics items manufactured by harmful ingredients. Fake beautifying products allegedly made of toxic chemicals can have fatal effects on health following long-term use. So, we urge the authorities concerned to look into the issue and do the needful.

Fariha Tabassum Piya,

Student of Department of Management,

University of Dhaka, Dhaka,

[email protected]


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