Ministry warns fake shampoos could cause baldness

Bangkok Feb 2006

Official laboratory tests are being conducted to determine whether a brand of shampoo is causing people to lose their hair – amid suspicion some shops are selling fake shampoos in containers of well-known brands.

Samran Saipromyat complained to police in Samut Prakan on Satur-day that he had lost most of his hair within weeks after using shampoo that he bought from a mini-mart.

“I was later told that this mini-mart had paid Bt40,000 to a woman after she suffered a problem similar to mine,” he was quoted as saying. Samran said he bought a well-known brand of shampoo, but he doubted that the mini-mart was selling genuine products.

Deputy Public Health Minister Anutin Charnveerakul yesterday told consumers to exercise caution with unusually cheap shampoo.

Anutin said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a shampoo manufacturer had collected samples of shampoo from the same lot as that allegedly used by Samran to determine whether the product could have caused any adverse effects. The Medical Sciences Department was also testing the shampoo in question.

Anutin said the hair loss might have been caused by an allergy to certain chemicals or a fungal infection. If so, only particular individuals would be affected.

FDA chief Pakdee Pothisiri said vendors could face up to one year in jail and/or a fine up to Bt60,000 if convicted of selling fake products.

Pharmacy Council spokesman Katha Bunditanukool said consumers should carefully select shampoo that matches their scalp condition. And they should consult doctors about medicated shampoos.

Meanwhile, well-known singer Netchanok Panpure, or “Look Nok Supaporn”, yesterday accompanied one of her aunts to the Consumer Protection Board to complain about a shampoo.

“My aunt found the shampoo smelled and [there was] a condom inside the bottle,” the singer said.

Netchanok said her aunt, Ploy Sampao, bought a well-known shampoo from a local shop in Kamphaeng Phet. After using it just three times, she had become bald.