[Chronic mercury poisoning from cosmetic creams (author's transl)]

Two cases of chronic mercury poisoning are reported. Both patients had used a skin cream containing mercury for years which contained the latter substance in various strengths (3%-50%). The creams are commercially available, usually in 20 g tin as a skin whitener or skin care preparation. According to the regulations in force, preparations containing not more than 5% Hg in the form of white precipitate can be freely obtained without prescription in drug-stores and perhaps also in shops dealing in cosmetics. The limits of tolerance at which the first symptoms of mercury poisoning may appear may perhaps have been already reached by the regular use of freely purchasable preparations.