The sight of men and women bleaching is not a new thing by any means, nowadays everybody wants to have that light skin tone, and people of color in countries like India and Africa are relentlessly targeted by unscrupulous advertisers to use dangerous skin lighteners. There is nothing wrong in wanting to look your radiant best, but before you think of changing that beautiful skin color you have think of the long term consequences. Exposure to bleach can irritate the nose, eyes, skin and lungs serious side effects of using bleach can include respiratory problem, skin burns damage to the nervous system etc.
WHAT IS USED
Hydroquinone is used to lighten the dark parches of skin [also called hyperpigmentation, melisma liver spots]. The medicine works by blocking the process in the skin that leads to discoloration. Hydroquinone is a very harsh chemical present in the bleach which makes the cell of the skin completely dead and if this happens it can never be repaired.
HOW THEY WORK.
Most skin bleaching products lighten skin because of the active ingredient or combination of active ingredients that aims to reduce the amount of melanin, or the pigment producing compound found within beautiful black skin. Hydroquinone works in skin bleaching products by affecting the speed of production of the enzyme tyrosine which is responsible for the melanin formation. This effectively slows down the amount of melanin in the skin leading to a lightened skin tone and complexion.
HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS.
- Severe allergic reactions. Bleaching is not for everyone. You should be aware of your skin type and should make sure your skin is healthy enough to fight the chemicals contained in the bleach. One of the most severe side effects of bleaching are the skin allergies that can victimize you. Hydroquinone inhibits the enzyme reaction that cause the production of dark pigments. [Melanin].
- Catastrophic effects of mercury. Bleaches containing mercury should be avoided completely or their use should be minimized, mercury does not only cause poisoning but it also starts accumulating on the cells of your body which might lead to liver or kidney failure.
- Redness of the eyes. Bleaching agents contain pungent odors which is why most manufacturers add fragrance to them. This gives birth to yet another bad effect of bleaching the body. The fumes of the chemicals can make your eyes red and can even irritate them causing them to water. Also, you can develop the ‘’ bleach panda effect’’ what happens here is that the skin around the eyes becomes thinned and have increased pigmentation.
- Hydroquinone makes the skin considerably more sensitive to the UV rays of the sun. This makes the users of skin lightening products more prone to serious sunburns and skin cancers.
- Hydroquinone is a known mutagenic, and is said to significantly increase the risk of diseases such as adrenal dysfunction, liver diseases and has also been connected to various thyroid disorders. The extensive use of hydroquinone based products can also lead to a condition called ‘ochronosis’ which cause s blue-black dark patches on certain areas of the skin which is permanent and very resistant to further treatment.
- Extended use of mercury based skin lightening products can cause serious skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation along with severe scarring. And also long term use of mercury based products can also affect the systemic health in that it is closely associated with psychosis, depression as well as kidney dysfunction.
- The use of high doses of corticosteroids slows down the skin cell regeneration, leading to a thinning of the top most layer of the skin or the epidermis. this not only makes people uses the skin bleaching products more susceptible to sun damage, and various pigmentation issues, it can also lead to the increased visibility of the green/blue veins of the body.
- Steroids used in skin bleaching creams over an extended period of time are also known to lead to hormone imbalances, and have the potential to cause diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome [ a condition which adversely affects the body’s adrenal glands.
- The cocktail of the various chemical compounds used in skin lightening products is also known to exacerbate the effect of skin infections and diseases such as acne, eczema and dermatitis.
- When the skin is subjected to heavy and or continuous doses of the chemicals in skin whitening creams it loses its ability to heal. Hence, injuries, lesions or rashes are much difficult to treat.
- Using hydroquinone in doses higher than 2% or for periods longer than months will lead to darkening of the skin. Which is permanent and very resistant to further treatment. Over-usage of skin whitening products can also cause hyperpigmentation at the level of the fingers, toes and other extremities causing them to look darker and mismatched.
- Reduction in skins resistance to bacterial and fungal infections.
- Anxiety, depression or psychosis and peripheral neuropathy [ damage of the peripheral nerves]
- Increased appetite and weight gain.
- Severe birth defects.
- Liver damage.
The aim of skin whitening in itself is quite logical and innocent. However, that is only if it is carried out under the supervision of an expert. If you are just beginning the skin whitening process you must have in mind that prolonged and unsupervised use of these mysteriously formulated creams will likely land you in more trouble than you bargained for.
ALSO READ,
NATURAL WAYS OF BLEACHING.
- Diet. Diet is the most important part that you should take care of if you want a flawless skin, take away all refined food products and replace them with healthy and nutritious ones.
- Increase your intake of water. This helps keep skin free of dehydration and so the look is healthy and unblemished.
- Cleansing. Take proper care of cleansing your skin. Choose a product that is natural and effective. Pay attention to exfoliating your skin from time to time so that you get rid of the dead skin.
- Limes and lemons. Citric acid is natural bleach and will help you have a lighter skin tone without any side effects.
