Dear Fave,
It's a well-known fact that we cannot discuss healthcare without addressing the importance of skin care. With this in mind, I wanted to share my recent experience with you, dear faves. I was invited for an interview on a radio station yesterday, and the topic I presented was "HEALTH EFFECTS OF SKIN BLEACHING PRODUCTS." It was a controversial topic that garnered a lot of attention, so I thought it would be fair to share with you what the viewers heard.
What Is Skin Bleaching or Lightening?
Is Toning Different From Bleaching?
Is Skin Bleaching Reversible?
Can Bleached Skin Be Operated On?
Is Sunscreen Protection Good For Only Light People?
How Can Skin Be Best Taken Care Of?
Long Term Effects
Myths
Skin Cancer
What Is Wrong With Dark Skin?
Why Is Beauty Attributed To Being Fair?
Are There Foods That Can Naturally Lighten The Skin?
Effects Of Natural Products
Conclusion
What Is Skin Bleaching or Lightening?
Skin bleaching or lightening is the attempt to either remove localized dark patches (e.g. hyperpigmentation, melasma age spots, and others), alter the generalized skin color, or even achieve a lighter skin tone as a fashion trend. Using either chemical or mechanical means with an aim to reduce the melanin quantity in the skin. Melanin; responsible for the skin's color, plays a significant role in racial differences.
Ideally, bleaching products should be prescribed by a dermatologist or aesthetician because each has a dosage limit, and excessive use can lead to serious health side effects.
Is Toning Different From Bleaching?
Toning is often confused with the term "toner," which refers to a cleansing agent used to wash the skin. In this context, toning aims to enhance the natural color of the skin, making it glow and shine in its original shade. On the other hand, bleaching involves the use of chemicals to alter the skin's natural color, making it at least two shades lighter than the person's natural tone.
Is Skin Bleaching Reversible?
Yes, but it takes a considerable amount of time after discontinuing the use of skin bleaching products. To address the issue effectively, one should consider addressing it at a deeper level of the skin, even if it initially results in a darkening of the complexion. With time, the skin will regain its health and evenness.
Can a Bleached Skin Be Operated On?
Medically, there are no contraindications for performing surgeries on bleached skin. The challenge lies in the skin's closure and healing post-surgery. Bleached skin is thinner and more fragile, predisposing the skin to premature aging. There is a tendency for apposed skin to break which uncontrolled could lead to sepsis and many other opportunistic infections. Also, health officials could experience difficulties in securing intravenous lines or administrating parenteral medication which can make healthcare procedures more challenging.
Is Sunscreen Protection Only Beneficial for Light-Skinned People?
Sunscreen protection is essential for all skin types, not just light-skinned individuals. While those with lighter skin benefit more due to their lower melanin levels, everyone can benefit from sunscreen to protect against harmful UV rays.
I believe Africa as a continent, should take examples from Europe and the United States and ban all bleaching chemicals beyond a certain level. Strict restrictions should be made and citizens encouraged to get proper prescriptions from a professional if they need an uneven skin tone evened out, for treatment of hyper-pigmentation or hypo-pigmentation amongst other melanin disorders. By following these precautions, bleaching would be better regulated, and abuse tendencies reduced, resulting ultimately in a smile through for healthcare in the country. Like cigarettes, all bleaching products should be labeled with a warning!
How Can Skin Be Best Taken Care Of?
To care for your skin effectively:
Use natural creams and oils free of harmful substances like mercury.
Exfoliate with scrubs to remove dead skin cells.
Keep your skin moisturized.
Engage in regular exercise to improve blood circulation and overall skin health.
Apply sunscreen whenever you'll be exposed to the sun.
Before you go to sleep, take off makeup and apply a good moisturizer that helps to restore lost nutrients and regenerate the skin.
Cosmetics are meant to improve the appearance of the skin or enhance the attractiveness of users and not to alter the basic skin structure.
Long-Term Effects
Overuse of skin-bleaching products can lead to various health issues, including uneven skin tone, irritations, acne, increased appetite, weight gain, permanent skin bleaching, skin thinning, skin cancers, kidney problems, psychological stress, bone pains, osteoporosis, and stroke.
Mercury in some products can cause neurological, skin, and kidney damage, psychiatric disorders, asthma, liver damage, and birth defects.
Myths
These are generally false beliefs about bleaching that affect people's behavior towards this topic. I'd love to hear from you about any you know; leave it in the comment section below and I will try to answer.
Myth 1 - Skin of color, Black people, higher Fitz-Patrick Scale (insert however you refer to your skin) do not get skin cancer. Truth - This is a disturbing and big thumbs-down reaction, as absolutely anybody can get skin cancer. Yes, people of darker skin color produce and display more melanin, which helps them fight ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) better, and probably decreases their chances but it doesn't totally eliminate the probability of predisposition to skin cancer. So apply your sun protection and be kind to your skin as any other human.
Myth 2 - Injecting the lightening product is safer
Truth - Injecting the lightening product may be faster but it is absolutely not safer. It goes straight to your bloodstream beyond the skin and has direct access to your internal organs, posing extreme danger to your overall health.
Myth 3 - It doesn't matter the kind of chemical used.
Truth - Some people in the slums and maybe others out of ignorance use hair relaxers to bleach their skin due to its cheapness. If you are reading this and you do or know someone who does, I am pleading with you - Please stop it! You see what it does to the hair what more the skin.
Skin Cancer
Many predisposing factors can lead to skin cancer via chemicals, genetic factors, and others however, bleaching can be an accelerating factor. Skin cancer risk increases due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) without sufficient melanin protection. Note I keep referring to melanin level - this is because the more melanin one's skin possesses the better the skin can fight off ultraviolet radiation from the sun which is a culprit in skin cancer predisposition.
What Is Wrong With a Dark Skin?
Dark skin is beautiful, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Our African ancestors celebrated the beauty of dark skin, and we should continue to do so. Queen Sheba embraced her ebony beauty and bathed with the heavy minerals of the Dead Sea and clay masks. Queen Cleopatra also did that and would bathe in honey and milk. Though extravagant you might think, they made do with what was available at their time, now we have a wide selection of beauty products and a large variety to pick from. Hold your crown high Queen!
Why Is Beauty Attributed to Being Light-Skinned?
Beauty should not be defined by Western standards. We should reject such narrow perceptions and appreciate the diverse beauty that exists. As much as it is a mindset, we should also contribute to enlightening our younger ones to this truth.
Are There Foods That Can Naturally Lighten the Skin?
Yes, generally fruits and vegetables are good for the skin
Fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, cabbage, papaya, turmeric, tomatoes, cucumbers, and lemons have certain lightening properties. Proper hydration through drinking water, can help improve the health and tone of the skin.
Effects of Natural Products on Skin Lightening
The impact of natural products on skin tone depends on their chemical composition. If used in their unaltered, natural form, they can be beneficial, but when processed and enhanced they can be even more beneficial.
Physician's Advice
Avoid the use of skin-bleaching products unless necessary. Consult a dermatologist or aesthetician for an individual assessment before using any skin care product. Remember, what works for one person may not necessarily work the same way for another person due to our individual body chemistries.
If you know someone who could benefit from this information, please share it with them. Feel free to click on our social media buttons, leave your comments, myths, questions, and contributions below or by email.
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