This research aimed to determine the effects of mercury use in whitening creams for the general public. This research used descriptive-qualitative approach, the method that used in this research is literature study which implemented by recording the previous findings regarding to the variables of conflict. WHO states that more than 90 creams from 15 countries have detectable mercury concentrations below 1 ppm. Thirty-four creams (10% of the sample) was found that have high mercury levels, that is, above 1 ppm, in four of the 13 samples from Indonesia, overall, mercury concentrations in this particular product ranged from 93 ppm to over 16,000 ppm.  Long-term adverse effects of using mercury cream on health.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by severe pruritic symptoms and chronic AD related to clinical features in form of lichenification associated with a history of atopic disease both for himself and family. AIM: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of using earthworm extract (Lumbricus rubellus) to increase interleukin (IL)-10 and decrease immunoglobulin E (IgE), and to describe the AD (SCORAD) scoring index of patients with AD. METHODS: This research used quantitative with quasi experiment method. The data were analyzed using SPSS v19 program. To determine the basic characteristics of numerical variables, the mean standard deviation is functioned if the data distribution amount is even, if it is not, it used the median. Meanwhile, to observe the relationship between L. rubellus extract and IgE, Mann-Whitney test analysis (U-Test) was used. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that the administration of L. rubellus extract showed a changes and differences before and after being involved with the extract. IgE levels between ERL and no ERL groups had differences (p < 0.05), however on day 15 both groups did not show any differences. Meanwhile, the SCORAD index indicated that the influence of lumbricus rebellus extract has an effect on low number of AD patients. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the administration of L. rubellus extract in patients with AD is quite effective.

No abstract