Kanebo Cosmetics Inc. said Monday that it has confirmed that 1,233 more people in Japan have developed blotches from using its skin-whitening products, bringing the official case tally to 15,192.

As of Oct. 13, 5,200 have serious symptoms, with at least three blotches or a blotch at least 5 cm in diameter, while 956 of the 5,200 have obvious blotches on large areas, such as their face and hands.

Another 6,746 have less severe symptoms and the remaining 3,246 have already or almost recovered, Kanebo said.

The products, which Kanebo belatedly recalled starting on July 4, contain a whitening chemical substance called 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, which Kanebo has named Rhododenol.