Penis whitening fad drives social media nuts

BANGKOK -- A Bangkok clinic that has drawn 100 men a month to its penis whitening service has caused a stir in Thailand, with social media users both baffled and alarmed by the phallic fad.

The Lelux Hospital, renowned for its body whitening expertise in a country obsessed with skin color, began offering the unconventional treatment six months ago after a male customer complained of "dark parts" on his groin.

"These days a lot of people are asking about it. We get around 100 clients a month, three to four clients a day," Bunthita Wattanasiri, a manager for the Skin and Laser department at Lelux Hospital told AFP.

The procedure, which uses laser whitening, got wide play on Thai television and social media on Thursday after the hospital released images of a man undergoing the treatment.

"We have to be careful because it's a sensitive part of the body," Bunthita said, adding most clients were aged between 22 and 55-years-old with many from Thailand's LGBTQ community.

The same hospital stirred controversy last year for touting beautification treatment called a "3D Vagina" in which the customer's own body fat is used to make genitalia more plump.

The whitening service costs around $650 for five sessions.

"I think it's a good market to enter so we offer the ultimate body treatment to our clients, either men and women," Bunthita said.

Whitening and bleaching are not uncommon in other parts of the world and are widely offered online.

But they are particularly sought after in Thailand, where skin-whitening ads have caused outrage and accusations of racism.

"The obsession... people nowadays can't embrace their own skin color," said one Facebook user.

Another user Parin Ruansati posted: "Oh god... what ever happened to the world?"

Another had a lighter response, writing "why not?".

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Belo apologizes for skin whitening ads

MANILA, Philippines -- The Belo Medical Group apologized late on Sunday after its advertising campaign for Belo Men drew flak for supposedly "racist" undertones.

To launch a line of skin whitening products, Belo Men recently unveiled a series of advertisements, including one which has the caption "10% lighter. 100% more sosyal," with the young man throwing his car keys to a valet.

Facebook users posted negative comments about the ads on Belo Men's page on the popular social networking site.

"If a lot of people are getting offended about it, we apologize about that. But it wasn't our intention," Belo's daughter Cristalle Henares said in an interview with ABS-CBNnews.com on Sunday night.

"And it's not really about the sosyal. That was just the execution. The idea behind it is as they get whiter, they became more confident," she explained.

Belo added that in her 22 years of medical practice, she noticed that skin whitening is the most popular procedure asked by their customers.

"And men have always been looking for something for them," she said.

This is why Belo came out with a whitening product specifically for men.

"They don't want to be really white but they just want to be fairer kasi sabi nila parang mas clear ang complexion, parang they feel more confident. So I told Cristalle before pa na i think you need to make a whitening product for men, for them lang talaga," the doctor said.

"I gave in to what they want. That's (skin whitening) the No. 1 talaga na hinihingi sa clinic, both men and women," she added.

Henares added that Belo Men as a brand has a more humorous personality -- which she said was reflected in the series of ads.

The other executions are: "10% lighter. 100% approved," with an elderly man showing off his future son-in-law to his golf buddies; and "10% lighter. 100% more numbers," with a guy surrounded by three sexy girls, holding their cellphones.

"These are just ways to make the subject a little lighter because men are medyo nahihiya sila about the topic. But from what we know in the clinic, that's really what they want to happen. ...Para hindi siya diretso, we had to make it a little more humorous," Henares said.

Henares also said the campaign was planned before the launch of Bayo's much-maligned "What's your mix" campaign, which has since been discontinued after it was heavily criticized for being racist.

"Actually it was planned before the whole Bayo thing happened. Nagkataon lang na medyo sabay ang launch namin. And when the Bayo thing happened, we said, 'Oh no, because of the percentages, people might think that they have the same connotation. So when the Bayo thing happened, we said why don't we lay low for now. So we put it down first sa Facebook. And we released it in just one magazine, which is FHM," she explained.

But with the negative reaction on social media, Henares said they will decide on what to do with the campaign.

"If we feel that it's a sensitive topic right now, we're going to park it a bit and see where it goes," Henares said.

article source: abs-cbnnews.com

13 skin-whitening products containing excessive mercury being sold in Manila and Makati

MANILA, Philippines – Toxics watchdog Ecowaste Coalition on Wednesday alerted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on skin whitening products containing mercury that are being sold illegally in Manila and Makati.

Thirteen tested cosmetic products were found to contain excessive amounts of mercury. The products contained 550 parts per million (ppm) to 60,800 ppm of mercury. The ASEAN Cosmetics Directive's allowable limit is only up to 1 ppm.

Samples were purchased by Ecowaste from cosmetic stalls and Chinese drugstores around Binondo, Divisoria, Quiapo, and Sta. Cruz in Manila and Guadalupe in Makati. The products cost between P60 to P180. Ecowaste used an X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer to measure the mercury content of the samples.

Mercury was not listed as an ingredient in all the samples and none of the skin whitening products had been previously listed in the 2010-2011 FDA list of 50 banned skinned whitening products containing excessive amounts of mercury.

Mercury is dangerous to humans in excessive amounts as this causes poisoning, mutations, and other health problems. Symptoms of mercury poisoning include irritability, shyness, tremors, changes in vision or hearing, memory problems, depression, and numbness and tingling in hands, feet or around mouth. Mercury also damages the kidneys and the nervous system and interferes with the brain development of unborn and young children.

The group is urging cosmetic consumers to be wary of product labels and ingredients and not patronize those that do not give adequate and understandable information. It said products with mercury should not be thrown with ordinary trash.

Ecowaste sent a letter to FDA Officer-in-Charge Atty. Nicolas B. Lutero III proposing the following steps to address the issue:

a. Issue a new advisory banning skin whitening products for containing mercury above the allowable limit of 1 ppm.

b. Conduct a series of law enforcement activities to rid the market of skin lightening cosmetics containing dangerous levels of mercury and without the benefit of notification with the FDA.

c. Publish a consumer education material that will inform users about the health hazards posed by mercury-containing cosmetics.

d. Encourage victims of mercury exposure from skin whitening products to come forward and tell their stories.

Below are the results of the test conducted by Ecowaste on the 14 products:

1. AILKE Perfection Salvation Rosy Whitening and Peeling Cream manufactured/distributed by (not indicated on the label)(purchased for P120 from Central Chinese Drug Store, 1057 Ongpin St., Binondo, Manila), mercury NOT detected.

2. Feique Whitening Anti-Freckle Cream manufactured/distributed by GLDJB (Harbin) Cosmetics Ltd.,China (purchased for P60 from stall IA 43-45, 168 Mall, Divisoria, Manila), 16,000 ppm of mercury

3. Feique Golden Aloe Whitening Anti-Scar, Anti Freckle Set manufactured/distributed by GLDJB (Harbin)Cosmetics Ltd., China (purchased for P60 from stall IA 43-45, 168 Mall, Divisoria, Manila), 25,000 ppm of mercury

4. Feique Green Tea Vital Whitening Freckle-Removing Cream manufactured/distributed by GLDJB (Harbin) Cosmetics Ltd., China (purchased for P150 from stall IA 43-45, 168 Mall, Divisoria, Manila), 15,800 ppm of mercury

5. Bai Li Tou Hong manufactured/distributed by (not indicated in English) (purchased for P150 from stall IA 43-45, 168 Mall,Divisoria, Manila), 46,700 ppm of mercury

6. Maidaifu Herbal Moisturizing and Whitening Cream manufactured/distributed by (not indicated in English) (purchased forP180 from Stall IA-45, 168 Mall, Divisoria, Manila), 60,800 ppm of mercury

7. Green Cucumber and Ginseng 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Set manufactured/distributed by Yudantang International, Taiwan (purchased for P120 from stall IR-24, 168Mall, Divisoria), 9,414 ppm of mercury

8. Loreial Paris Anti-Freckle Cream Suit manufactured/distributed by (not indicated on the label) (purchased for P120 from stall IB 2-4 999 Shopping Mall,Divisoria, Manila), 1,371 ppm of mercury

9. Aichun Beauty Strongly WhiteningFreckle Series (3 in one) manufactured/distributed by France Sasa (HK) International Group Ltd. / Livepro Beauty Cosmetics Co. Ltd., China (purchased for P98 from G2 Beauty Products, Villalobos St., Quiapo, Manila), 550 ppm of mercury

10. “Special Cream” (double, label in Chinese) manufactured/distributed by (not indicated in English) (purchased for P80 from stall G-162 Good Earth Mall, Bustos St., Sta. Cruz, Manila), 1,565 ppm of mercury

11. “Special Cream” (single, label in Chinese)manufactured/distributed by (not indicated in English) (purchased for P80 from Famous Chinese Drug Store, Recto Ave. near Rizal Ave., Sta. Cruz, Manila), 1,378 ppm of mercury

12. Yudantang Ginseng and Ganoderma Lucidum 6 Days Specific Eliminating Freckle Whitening Sun Block Cream manufactured/distributed by Yudantang International, Taiwan (purchased for P140 from Rose and Fujikura General Merchandise, Uni-Mec Supermarket, Guadalupe, Makati City), 31,300 ppm of mercury

13. Aichun Beauty Green Tea Whitening Speckle Removing Series (3 in one) manufactured/distributed by France Sasa (HK) International Group Ltd./Livepro Beauty Cosmetic Co. Ltd., China (purchased for P90 from G2 Beauty Products, Carriedo St., Quiapo, Manila), 1,250 ppm of mercury

14. Aichun Beauty Pawpaw Whitening and Freckle Remover Series (3 in one) manufactured/distributed by France Sasa (HK) International Group Ltd./Livepro Beauty Cosmetic Co. Ltd., China (purchased for P90 from G2 Beauty Products, Carriedo St., Quiapo, Manila), 867 ppm of mercury

source: interaksyon.com