Counterfeit cosmetics - hidden danger

Market management agency caught a case of trading cosmetics of unknown origin.

Violations pile up, difficult to handle thoroughly

Counterfeit cosmetics traders are becoming more and more sophisticated, using many tricks to deceive the authorities. In Dak Lak , recently, a series of cases of trading and storing cosmetics of unknown origin and without invoices and documents have been discovered. Especially in the case in Cu Ebur commune, the authorities seized more than 35,000 cosmetic units owned by Ms. D.HT, with a total weight of more than 6 tons. The owner could not present a business license, the products did not have Vietnamese sub-labels, were of unknown origin and were mainly consumed through social networks.

The market management force of this province also discovered hundreds of cosmetic products floating in Tan Lap, Tan Loi, Ea Tam, Krong Buk, Ea Sup wards. Most of the products were labeled with foreign brands such as Japan, Korea, Thailand... but the packaging was sketchy, the ingredients were unknown, and they were not inspected by the authorities.

Mr. Vuong Minh Son, Head of Dak Lak Market Management Department, said that the subjects used fake accounts and celebrity images to promote, transport through delivery units, and store in small warehouses to avoid detection. Testing cosmetics is currently very expensive, with some samples costing up to hundreds of millions of VND, so handling the work is difficult.

Cosmetics are products used directly on the body, affecting the skin and long-term health. Therefore, do not compromise your own safety because of cheapness or gullibility. Beauty is everyone's right, but beauty with knowledge and responsibility for your own health is the wise choice.

Similarly, in Bac Giang , a counterfeit cosmetics manufacturing facility distributed hundreds of thousands of products to the market, illegally earning nearly 6 billion VND. Not only in the provinces, counterfeit cosmetics are also "blooming" in many big cities. In Ho Chi Minh City, authorities discovered a warehouse producing fake perfumes bearing the labels of high-end brands such as Chanel, YSL, Bvlgari... worth tens of billions of VND.

Recently, the Ministry of Health has continuously issued decisions to recall many violating product lines such as Hanayuki sunscreen with incorrect SPF index, or a series of products of Linh Anh Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Trading Company Limited which were discovered to have labeling formulas that were not consistent with the published records.

The consequences of using fake cosmetics do not stop at economic losses, but also directly affect the health of consumers. Records at dermatology hospitals show that the number of hospitalizations due to dermatitis, allergies, pigmentation disorders... after using cosmetics of unknown origin is increasing.

Recently, a 33-year-old female patient was hospitalized with red, peeling, and dilated capillaries after using a whitening cream of unknown origin, advertised as “lightening skin tone after 7 days”. Test results showed that the product contained a high level of corticoid. This is an active ingredient that must be prescribed and strictly monitored by a doctor. As a result, the patient’s skin barrier was severely damaged, leading to dermatitis, prolonged irritation, and long-term treatment.

The price to pay is not only on the skin

Medical experts warn that fake cosmetics not only damage the skin surface, but also pose a serious risk to overall health. According to Dr. Pham Thi Uyen Nhi (Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital), these products often contain toxic chemicals such as corticosteroids, mercury, parabens, formaldehyde, etc. These are substances that can cause dermatitis, endocrine disorders, damage the liver and kidneys, and even increase the risk of cancer if used for a long time. Many patients come to the hospital with thin, red, peeling skin, dilated capillaries, or widespread blisters, the result of a period of using mixed creams and "whitening" creams of unknown origin that are widely advertised on social networks.

According to Dr. Vu Thai Ha, Head of the Department of Research & Application of Stem Cell Technology (Central Dermatology Hospital), blind faith in advertisements that "whiten skin in just a few days" has made many people pay a high price. "There is no product that is cheap, effective, fast and safe. Behind the instant change is a process of breaking down the skin structure and causing pigmentation disorders, making subsequent treatment extremely difficult and expensive," he said.

Similarly, Dr. Vu Nguyet Minh, Director of the Clinical Trial Center (Central Dermatology Hospital) pointed out that many cosmetics on the market today may contain arsenic - a dangerous heavy metal. Arsenic does not cause immediate damage, but silently accumulates in the body. After about 10 years of continuous use, it can increase the risk of skin cancer and other malignant diseases.

This expert also shared the case of a pregnant woman who had to be hospitalized with widespread pustules and oozing fluid all over her face after using an acne treatment product purchased online. As a result, her skin was severely damaged, affecting both her mental health and her pregnancy health.

The above evidence shows that the consequences of using fake cosmetics are not only scars on the skin, but also smoldering sequelae in the body that can last a lifetime. Therefore, consumers need to be more alert and knowledgeable before deciding to put any product on the skin - the most fragile and sensitive part of the body.

“Consumers should be careful when choosing cosmetics, prioritizing products with clear origins, quality control, and distribution through genuine systems. Be wary of advertisements that say “lightning fast”, “lightening after a few days”, “treating melasma completely” because these could be tricks of profiteering businesses. At the same time, avoid buying cosmetics floating on the internet, in groups without specific addresses, or on unverified websites,” warned Dr. Vu Thai Ha.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/my-pham-gia---hiem-hoa-giau-mat-d321292.html