A Fishy Freckle Remover
By Hannah Isom
We all have parts of our bodies that we’d like to change, whether it’s a wobbly tum, oversized nose or an abundance of freckles; but how far would you actually go to change your minor afflictions? Well, consumers in China have this week been warned that if they choose to tackle their freckly complexion with a new ‘freckle-remover’, they may end up rather red in the face.
Advertisements for the new “Magic Freckly Removing Gel“, produced by a company based in Shanghai, have been banned from Chinese television this week, after being exposed for using fake endorsements and down-right shoddy science to sell their product.
The freckle treatment claimed to be so effective, it could actually remove the spots from fish. Determined to put this theory to the test, a Chinese research institute launched an investigation into the effects of the freckle gel. Suspicion of the treatment was soon aroused, when researchers found that the fish they treated with the gel died a few days after the experiment.
It later emerged that several unfortunate consumers in Shanghai, Beijing and other provinces had complained of rashes, skin inflammation, coloured spots and other nasty side-effects after applying the gel. Claims by the manufacturer that the product was produced in America using swanky technology were also exposed to be porkies. The active ingredient used in the gel was actually found to be a plant-based compound, often used in traditional Chinese medicine to reduce fever and phlegm. Neither of these symptoms have much to do with freckles, which are actually caused by deposits of the pigment melanin beneath the skin.
The Chinese newspaper that covered the story said, “not only can it remove spots, it also has a certain amount of poison”. Not good news for consumers and very bad news for fishes everywhere. China’s trade watchdog, the State Administration of Commerce and Industry has now banned the ad and has ordered an investigation into the matter.
All this leaves us with just one question: why would you want to remove freckles from fish in the first place?
To read more about Hannah and view more of her articles click here.
Advertisements for the new “Magic Freckly Removing Gel“, produced by a company based in Shanghai, have been banned from Chinese television this week, after being exposed for using fake endorsements and down-right shoddy science to sell their product.
The freckle treatment claimed to be so effective, it could actually remove the spots from fish. Determined to put this theory to the test, a Chinese research institute launched an investigation into the effects of the freckle gel. Suspicion of the treatment was soon aroused, when researchers found that the fish they treated with the gel died a few days after the experiment.
It later emerged that several unfortunate consumers in Shanghai, Beijing and other provinces had complained of rashes, skin inflammation, coloured spots and other nasty side-effects after applying the gel. Claims by the manufacturer that the product was produced in America using swanky technology were also exposed to be porkies. The active ingredient used in the gel was actually found to be a plant-based compound, often used in traditional Chinese medicine to reduce fever and phlegm. Neither of these symptoms have much to do with freckles, which are actually caused by deposits of the pigment melanin beneath the skin.
The Chinese newspaper that covered the story said, “not only can it remove spots, it also has a certain amount of poison”. Not good news for consumers and very bad news for fishes everywhere. China’s trade watchdog, the State Administration of Commerce and Industry has now banned the ad and has ordered an investigation into the matter.
All this leaves us with just one question: why would you want to remove freckles from fish in the first place?
To read more about Hannah and view more of her articles click here.
Image: Juha Blomberg
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