REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BLEACH YOUR SKIN.

Skin bleaching is the use of products to lighten dark areas of the skin or to achieve an overall lighter skin, the products reduce the concentration or production of melanin in the skin.

Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes.

You should not be bothered about your complexion because it is not a determining factor to being beautiful or handsome, there is no need to lighten the skin and the desired results are not guaranteed.

Bleaching is an effective way to improve the appearance of patches, stretch marks, and blemishes but the chemicals contained in bleaching creams will create a life-threatening and damaging effect on your skin.

STAGES OF BLEACHING

1. Toning: This is the first stage of bleaching, we call it “toning”; at this stage, you intend to improve your skin appearance, remove patches or pigmentation, and blemishes, But 99% will intentionally forget to discontinue.

2. Self-Justification: At this stage, you are justifying to yourself, that it is reasonable and necessary to bleach to maintain the glow from the toning, at this stage, you have equipped yourself with answers to any negative feedback associated with bleaching.

3. Anger: At this stage, you have started noticing the visible side effect like (Wrinkle and premature aging of skin early aging, skin atrophy, discoloration, itchy and flaky skin, skin infection, and rash, visible blood vessels). You are angry at the people around you for not advising you better, you are angry at the world, you are angry with every bleaching scream seller BUT you are not angry at yourself.

4. Post-decisional dissonance/Regret: At this stage, you are done been angry at everyone, you are angry at yourself, depressed, and becoming anti-social, any innocent stare near you makes you feel judged and uneasy; you might be right, they are probably judging you.

5. Acceptance: This is the last stage of bleaching, here you have finally accepted that you cannot be angry anymore, you are only seeking remedies to get back your melanin and how to live with the discoloration and health implications.

CHEMICAL COMPONENT OF SKIN BLEACHING PRODUCTS

These products include creams, pills, laser treatment, soaps, chemical peels and baths

1. Hydroquinone: 

When a product contains Hydroquinone, it decreases the number of melanocytes (melanin) in the skin resulting in skin discoloration(ochronosis) itchy and flaky skin. This has been banned in different continents because of the amount of mercury it contains.

2. Topical retinoids: 

When a bleaching product contains retinoids, thins out the skin giving way for other agents to act on the skin resulting in skin irritation, atrophy, and dermatitis.

3. Topical Steroids: 

This is injected into the body to kill the melanin resulting in skin atrophy, prolonged wound healing, acne, increase risk of skin infections, permanent scars, and other health problems.

4. Benzoyl Peroxide: 

This is used to clear up acne and improve the appearance of blackheads, it can cause skin dehydration resulting in premature aging, hyperpigmentation, it can also increase the risk of skin cancer.

5. Parabens:

Parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, they are known to disrupt hormone function leading to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity.

6. Mercury: 

This is a toxic metal used in cosmetic preparation, it’s used for the suppression of melanin production by the skin resulting in skin hyperpigmentation, dryness of skin and irritation, burns, skin cancer, and mercury poisoning.

       

ADVERSE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EFFECT OF BLEACHING PRODUCTS.

1. Damage to internal organs: continuous use of bleaching products can cause damage to internal organs like the liver, brain, and kidney. The mercury in these products can cause liver failure, brain, and skin immune system failure.

2. Nephrotic syndrome: Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder often caused by damage; to the blood vessels in your kidneys, responsible for filtering waste and excess water, this results in the body excreting too much protein in the urine.

3. Premature /Early aging: continuous use of bleaching products makes the skin dry and wrinkled, such wrinkles and dry skin are associated with aging.

4. Skin injury-prone: Bleaching products contain steroids and continuous use will damage the skin resulting in skin atrophy. Skin atrophy is a condition whereby the thickness of the skin is reduced leaving the skin prone injuries that will not heal or take longer take to heal.

5. Skin cancer: Bleached skin strips away melanin pigment which protects the skin from the carcinogenic effects of UV rays from the sun, also mercury contained in bleaching products has carcinogenic properties that cause skin cancer.

6. Burns, inflammation, and irritation: continuous use of bleaching Products with a high concentration of hydroquinone can cause skin irritation, rashes, and red appearance.

7. Discoloration: Bleaching creams are made to treat discoloration and patches. Remember to check the ingredients combined in these products or whether a combination will be harsh on the skin, such combination can cause temporary dark staining of the skin, otherwise known as discoloration.

8. Mercury poisoning: Mercury poisoning is a form of metal poisoning caused by mercury exposure, the use of mercury exposes the body to mercury leading to mercury poisoning and this can lead to muscle weakness, peeling of the skin, and kidney problems.

9. Visible blood vessels through the skin: continuous use of bleaching cream results in skin thinning (skin atrophy) resulting in visible green blood vessels making one look sick and horrifying. 

SKIN BLEACHING BENEFITS

There are no health benefits associated with skin bleaching, although it reduces the appearance of acne, improves dark spots, even out skin tone. As an adult, skin bleaching is a choice that should be given a second thought because it has no health benefit rather a damaging health effect which is often ignored, if you are considering skin bleaching, you should consider not bleaching, it is not worth it.

IS BLEACHING ONLY FOR WOMEN?

Bleaching is not popular amongst men but there have been many known cases of bleaching by the male folk. Skin whitening products and bleaching does not consider gender in its resultant side effect either.