( CNN ) -- When Yuki Izumoto developed ugly white patches on her neck , hands and face nearly a year ago , her dermatologist had no answers for her . The 44-year-old Japanese housewife was embarrassed to show people her dotted hands , and the spots were n't going away . Her doctor told her `` it was a kind of disease , but the cause is unknown , '' she says . Now it seems likely that she and thousands of others may have developed white blotches on their skin as a result of a popular whitening product from Japanese cosmetics brand Kanebo . Izumoto says she used the product for several years . Reports of such symptoms from thousands of customers have led Kanebo to initiate a voluntary recall of all of its products that contain the `` quasi-drug ingredient '' known as Rhododenol . In a statement , Kanebo said 6808 customers had complained of vitiligo -- the appearance of irregular white blotches , or inconsistent de-pigmentation of the skin -- as of July 19 . Kanebo advises customers to stop using the skin products in question immediately and to contact a dermatologist . The company has set up a task force with `` the mission of taking full responsibility for the care of all customers who experience vitiligo-like symptoms following the use of the affected products , through to the stage of full recovery . '' Skin whitening is a near obsession for some women in many Asia countries , with both local and Western brands selling a variety of products designed to evenly lighten skin tone . Kanebo has sold nearly five million products containing the recalled ingredient across 11 Asian countries , including Japan , Hong Kong and South Korea . There have been very limited sales in the United Kingdom . The company plans to visit all customers who have complained of skin blotches . Meanwhile , Izumoto says she has yet to receive a visit and is angry at the company for not being in touch sooner . `` I used the products to become beautiful , but I was tainted by it , '' she says . She believes her skin may never return to normal . Saori Ibuki contributed to this report .
Yuki also developed white patches on her neck , arms and face . Thousands of people died of similar symptoms after a popular skin whitener . Japanese company Kanebo has recalled products with ingredient unknown . Skin whitening is a near obsession for some women in many Asia countries .