SKIN LIGHTENING – WORTH THE RISK?

Skin lightening products have formed a large part of the beauty market and sky rocketing profits have been made by this industry in the last year. That alone is evidence that a large proportion of the population are indulging.  What could be the reason for this craze for lighter skin? These products promise to give flawless skin and complete transformation of a woman’s looks. Advertisements for these products, music videos and some fashion magazines portray being very light skinned as the ultimate beauty. They tend to associate light skin with success, class and sex appeal. Celebrities who have lightened successfully are a source of inspiration to many who want the same results,but go about it the wrong way. It is therefore no surprise that many women are in pursuit of achieving very light skin and want to follow this fad that the media has popularized. Looking good starts with having great skin- not getting lighter (see previous article). Like everything else, skin lightening has its own share of side effects and many  who have indulged ended up regretting sooner or later. The active ingredients in these products are more often than not, harmful to the skin and vital organs. I have often heard people who are aware of these ingredients say that they aren’t listed on the label of whatever product they’re using, and so the products are completely safe. Here’s some news: Many of these products contain toxic chemicals that are not listed on the label. Some of the active ingredients in skin lightening products  include mercury, hydroquinone, steroids such as clobetasol propionate and betamethasone. To be safe, it is important to find an all natural product and brand name you can trust (be wary of fakes). This wont give the same results that chemical based products will and it takes much longer to see any results. The active ingredients in natural products are usually Lemon, kojic acid, honey, milk, amongst others.

 HOW DO SKIN LIGHTENING PRODUCTS WORK ?

Skin lightening products work by inhibiting melanin production thereby causing the skin to lighten. They alter the skin’s natural structure and make it more susceptible to skin cancer. Some lightening products containing hydroquinone are prescribed by dermatologists to treat skin conditions like melasma (hyperpigmentation appearing as spots on parts of the individual’s body) and are usually not to be used over a period of six months. Also, little amount of steroids are put in creams to treat eczema and other skin conditions but in over the counter skin lightening products, large amounts of steroids are used in these formulations in order to give the user fast  results. Products like Maxi White and others have been banned but many skin lightening products are still in circulation. Stated below are a few active ingredients to avoid and their side effects.

 HYDROQUINONE

Hydroquinone (C6H6O2) is a severely toxic and very powerful chemical used in photo processing, the manufacture of rubber and is an active agent in hair dyes. Use of Hydroquinone in skin lightening causes thinning of the skin and makes it susceptible to wounds and bruises. Users of products containing hydroquinone may find it difficult to have their wounds heal timely and sustain cuts and bruises easily. Users may also suffer allergic dermatitis (skin irritation), and other allergic reactions such as hives ‘rash’, difficulty in breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, blistering. Prolonged use of hydroquinone may also cause a skin condition known as ochronosis which causes skin thickening and hyperpigmentation hence users get darker in the long run; sometimes much darker than their original skin tone.

 STEROIDS

Steroids like clobetasol propionate and betamethasone are also used in skin lightening products. They give very fast results which are usually temporary; this makes users apply products continually, as they do not want to go back to their original skin tone. Steroids are originally meant for reducing inflammation, pain and swelling. Creams containing steroids are ideally supposed to be for treating eczema and other skin conditions and are to be applied upon prescription by a physician alongside directions for usage. Lightening is only a side effect of their real purpose. Steroids contained in skin lightening  products are usually a thousand times higher in dosage than the steroids used in creams for medical purpose, hence the overnight lightening. Steroids cause all sorts of problems such as thinning of the skin, swelling of the face and abdomen, acne, stretch marks which are usually irreversible, dicolouration, weight gain, weak muscles, high blood pressure, diabetes, and osteoporosis. It can also cause the body to stop producing cortisol so there is a possibility that if one stops using these creams they could fall ill because their stress hormones have been temporarily turned off.

 MERCURY

Mercury compounds have been used in skin lightening creams for many years, and excessive use has been linked to brain and kidney problems. Mercury in the form of Mercury Chloride & Ammoniated Mercury is carcinogenic (cancer-producing). When products containing mercury are used in the long term, mercury could enter the bloodstream and damage vital organs such as the liver and kidney .This is a common cause of kidney failure.

TRETINOIN

Tretinoin is the main topical retinoid that has been used in skin lightening products. It thins the skin, increasing the penetration of other agents as well as having a direct effect in reducing melanisation. It is a prescription medication because of potential risk in pregnancy. It can be quite irritating and may cause contact irritant dermatitis.

Most people bleach to follow a popular fad. The important thing is to have healthy even toned skin and you’ ll look good in any complexion. Take care of whatever skin tone God has blessed you with. Black is beautiful too! If you MUST indulge in skin lightening, do so with natural products or under the supervision of a dermatologist – better safe than sorry. The dangers and potential risks of skin lightening have been made known to you. So, if you’ve been considering bleaching your skin, ask yourself :

Is it worth it?