The Health Ministry has advised the public against buying and using four cosmetic products containing scheduled poisons.

They are Acrena Pure Herbal Papaya Soap, White Complex, SS Pearl Cream and SS Vita C Night Repair which contain tretinoin and mercury.

Pharmaceutical Services senior director, Datuk Eisah A. Rahman said cosmetic products adulterated with mercury were usually found in products marketed for skin lightening and anti-ageing treatments such as for freckles, blemishes and wrinkles.

She said unsupervised usage of tretinoin could cause redness to the skin, discomfort, stinging, peeling and skin becoming sensitive to sunlight.

Companies responsible for placing the products in the market had been instructed to immediately halt the sale and supply of the products, she added.