Bioderma withdraws anti-stretchmark cream on allergy fears

The move came after the government backed health and sanitation safety agency, Afssaps, was alerted to the fact that a number of pregnant women had reported allergic reactions resulting in contact dermatitis after using the product.

The agency said that as a precaution it had reached an agreement with Laboratoire Derma to withdraw all stocks of the products from distribution in France and recommends anyone currently in possession of the product to stop use and return it to the point of sale.

All products dated on or before September 2011​

As a result all batches of the product with an expiration date on or before September 2011 will have to be withdrawn due to the resulting health concerns.

The agency decided to take affirmative action to withdraw the product after it received 5 complaints from pregnant women, who all cited contact dermatitis that had taken the form of a red rash on the skin where the cream was applied.

Although this contact allergy has not been linked to any serious side affects besides the rash, the agency said that it was taking the measure to withdraws stocks of the product from the market as a safety precaution.

Safety investigation ongoing​

Affsaps is continuing investigations in conjunction with ABCDerm Maman Vergetures to determine the exact cause of the allergic reaction, and that the investigation is still ongoing.

The cream was launched by the company back in January 2008, since when 8,339 tubes have been distributed in pharmacies and other retail outlets throughout France.

The company says that sales of the product overseas have only been very small and that there is no formal international distribution of the product.

France sets stanard for use of cosmetics while pregnant​

In November last year the French government said that it was looking into a growing body of evidence to suggest that certain cosmetic ingredient should be avoided by pregnant women.

Reacting to this the French health authorities say they are considering plans to introduce a specific logo that would draw attention to cosmetic products posing a potential risk if used by women during pregnancy.

The move targets specific chemicals in the paraben and phthalates families that some suggest may increase the risk of deformities in unborn babies, as well as cancers.