The physician should be familiar with the contents of this insert before prescribing or dispensing this medication. Continuous application of skin bleaching creams can cause skin cancer or acne, or lead the skin to lose its elasticity, meaning skin with more wrinkles charles, 2003. Becoming a lighter shade of brown or trying to change your natural body shape in order to please your white counterparts, or to feel pleased with your own aesthetics. Skin bleaching creams may have different percentages of hydroquinone in their compound, but any skin bleaching cream with over 2% may cause side effects. Some of the causes of skin discoloration are sun damage, hormonal changes, aging, and genetics.
Skin bleaching or skin whitening is not a new concept. Dangers of skin whitening products skin whitening news. Skin whitening used interchangeably with skin bleaching or skin lightening is the act of brightening of the skin complexion using substances, mixtures or physical treatments 1 2. Get more insights on the benefits and negative effects of using this compound as a skin bleaching supplement. Many women use bleaching creams and solutions to lighten their facial hair. These are called direct effects and include defatting drying, irritation, corrosion, changes in pigmentation, chloracne, and skin cancer.
Dailymed zo medical melaminc skin bleaching and correcting. Hydroquinone is very harsh chemical present in the bleach which makes the cell of our skin completely dead and this if once happens cannot ever be repaired. Skin bleaching is the changing of the skin colour of the human being from dark to fair with the use of items like. Sep 07, 2017 many women use bleaching creams and solutions to lighten their facial hair. All of this research has led to a potential thesis which is that skin bleaching is immoral, promotes selfhate, exhibits damaging side effects, and is demeaning for multiple races. Skin bleaching is a growing trend in the caribbean and may be defined as the removal of skin melanin to achieve lighter skin tone.
May 07, 2014 by nahdya ayele kouevidjin despite the saying beauty is skin deep, women continuously significant amount of money on various cosmetics products such as make up, hair extensions and heels in order to perfect their imperfect exteriors. Research reveals that several chemicals and toxic compounds used in the preparation of whitening products can have harmful effects 9. The practice of skin bleaching is of social and public health concern, and this study has implications for national policy, practice and theory. Where beauty means bleached skin the new york times. Using skin lightening products to get fairer skin continues to be a widespread phenomenon.
Potent topical steroids, like betamethasone and clobetasol, which may cause grave side effects. Dangers of skin bleaching and lightening why skin color exists in various shades is a trivial matter. Skin bleaching is a social issue faced by many jamaicans. In fact, skin bleaching can be very detrimental to ones health and wellbeing. Ghana is a tropical country where the weather is very warm. Skin whitening among cameroonian female university students. Skin irritation skin rashes burning sensation excessive redness flakiness or excessive drying of the skin leading to cracking and peeling.
The aim of this post is to point out 7 damaging effects of skin whitening, especially if it is not done under proper supervision. Bleaching offers an inexpensive and less painful alternative to waxing or hair removal. Skin bleaching and its negative effects on the physical appearance of the black skin. Gentrification is another issue that requires social scientific. Skin lightening sl, also known as skin bleaching and skin whitening.
Test for skin sensitivity before using by applying a small amount to an unbroken patch of skin and check in 24 hours. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the skin whitening book secrets to an even smooth complexion. This ever growing trend has given rise to multimillion dollar markets in most countries especially in india and most of africa. The most common side effect of skin bleaching is skin irritation and a burning sensation. Side effects of alpha arbutin skin whitening products. Hydroquinone is a skin bleaching agent which may produce unwanted cosmetic effects if not used as directed. The world health organization who stated that nigerian women are the highest users of skin lightening products in the world, as about 77% of nigerian women buy and use these products. South africa has set an example for all struggling nations by overcoming apartheid and showing the world that exceptional leaders are needed to stand up, fight, and put an end to oppression. Harmful side effects of bleaching we all know what is bleaching but we really dont bother about what exactly are the harmful effects of bleaching.
Skin bleaching is used to treat discoloration of the skin, without changing skin color. Skin bleaching is the act of using chemical means to lighten the skins complexion. Bleaching of coral fragments and coral cells from various species of hard coral. Harmful side effects of bleaching skin care, makeup, weight. Max orezzoli november 21, 2011 skin bleaching is defined as a practice of using chemical substances in attempt to lighten skin tone or provide an even skin complexion by lessening the concentration of melanin. The effects of internalized oppression on the black community. Pdf skin bleaching and its negative effects on the physical. Objectives this study aimed to determine if such products are used in sweden in particular by pregnant women, furthermore to explore immigrant womens view skin bleaching. For organizational purposes, the data is presented in a chart format. Some time ago, nigeria was declared the world capital of skin bleaching. The terms skin whitening, skin lightening, and skin bleaching covers a variety of cosmetic methods used in an attempt to whiten or lighten the skin. Gentrification is another issue that requires social scientific research.
This study aimed to determine if such products are used in sweden in particular by pregnant women, furthermore to explore immigrant womens view skin bleaching. Examples of skin lightening products include creams, powders and soaps. Some will indeed willingly put their health in perilous circumstances in the name of beauty. This was a crosssectional study conducted from january to april 20 in 4 university campuses of yaounde, cameroon. Harmful effects of bleaching include mainly two substances which are present in these are hydroquinone and mercury. People use skin lightening products for a variety of reasons including skin bleaching, melasma, age or sun spot reduction, morphea, dysmorphia and other medicalpersonal reasons. Skin bleaching is popular with darkerskinned people to obtain a more even skin tone, but skin bleaching cream is also often used to lighten sun damage and age spots on the skin in people of all skin colors. These are detailed out to the understanding of the readers. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Mercury and hydroquinone content of skin toning creams and. The citizens of jamaica use subtle and extreme measures to. Skin bleaching is one of the most controversial beauty practices around the world, a multimillion dollar industry in india and across the african continent and elsewhere. It is not all chemicals can bleach but specific ones. Did you know that, indulgence in skin bleaching over a long period can expose one to diseases such as glaucoma, hypertension, diabetes and kidney malfunction. Skin bleaching and dermatologic health of african and afro. Also find out its effects compared to hydroquinone and why skin lightening products that contain this element have been banned in some european countries. Skin bleaching is a widespread phenomenon in spite of their potentially toxic health effects. Skin bleaching is the use of chemical substances to try to lighten skin tone or complexion by reducing the amount of melanin in the skin.
A case study of youthful ladies and women in houston municipality in ghana article pdf available. Melanin is the main substance that gives the skin its colour. Treatment considerations for dentists and their patients ada council on scientific affairs introduction over the past two decades, tooth whitening or bleaching has become one of the most popular esthetic dental treatments note. Mercury added in skinlightening products toxicological note. The piece centred on skin bleaching ingredients, bleaching creams, causes of bleaching, and the adverse effects of bleaching. It is also controversially used in african and asian cultures to lighten whole sections of the skin. Skin whitening, also known as skin lightening and skin bleaching, refers to the practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to lighten the skin or provide an even skin color by reducing the melanin concentration in the skin. Skin bleaching in the caribbean caribbean psychology today.
Pdf skin bleaching and its negative effects on the. Selfesteem, racial selfesteem, and black identity transactions article pdf available january 2010 with,905 reads how we measure reads. May 06, 2017 this topic has done justice to skin bleaching or skin whitening as some people named it. Skin bleaching, selfhate, and black identity in jamaica. It is done through the use of homemade products, cosmetic products and dermatological products.
There is a considerable amount of literature which documents, from the 17 century. Skin lightening products also known as bleaching creams, whiteners, skin brighteners, or fading creams work by reducing a pigment called melanin in the skin. What are the harmful effects of bleaching on the skin. Why are some jamaicans bleaching their skin to get lighter. The physician should be familiar with the contents of this insert before prescribing or dispensing this product.
Harmful side effects of bleaching skin care, makeup. Harmful effects of chemical skin bleaching and some safer. Most of these bleaching cosmetic products contain different kinds of harmful chemicals such as hydroquinone, mercury, kojic acid and vitamin c, which can affect their health amponsah et al. Knowledge, attitude and practice of skin whitening among. Back in the elizabethan times women and men strived to achieve a pale white skin complexion. Skin lightening practices, beliefs, and selfreported adverse effects. This problem is evidence in almost all major cities. The problem is widespread in the, african, america, caribbean asia and globally. Snow white complex has slowly penetrated the psyche of young people, even within the islands national soccer teams. The darker side of skin bleaching part 2 jamaica gleaner. The preliminary results suggest that there are varied reasons for skin bleaching and there is a range of black identities as each person constructs his or her identity in a multicultural society. Some contain mercury or other chemicals such as hydroquinone or steroids. Bleaching for beauty introduction to sociology, 1804 dr.
The chemical uv filter oxybenzone has been studied most intensively and the following effects have been described. Skin bleaching how and why these black women bleach. This doityourself approach is the reason that dermatologists in jamaica see so many patients suffering from the side effects of misusing or overusing bleaching. Blacks where seen as inferior amongst whites and thought that bleaching the skin would allow them to be just as worthy as people of lighter complexion. Skin can also smell after many years of use of skin bleaching creams. However, only two cases exist in the literature that documents the development of. Hydroquinone is the only skin bleaching chemical recognized by the fda. Find patient medical information for skin bleaching topical on webmd including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings. Zo medical melaminc skin bleaching and correcting with vitamin c hydroquinone hydroquinone cream if this spl contains inactivated ndcs listed by the fda initiated compliance action, they will be specified as such. General information there are more than a few adverse effects of regular skin bleaching. Aug 17, 2018 hydroquinone is a skin bleaching agent which may produce unwanted cosmetic effects if not used as directed. The darker side of skin bleaching part 2 the bleachers. Several chemicals have been shown to be effective in skin whitening, while some have proven to be toxic or have.
By law hydroquinone and steroids cannot be used in. Skin bleaching is the practice of applying hydroquinone andor other depigmenting agents to specific or widespread areas of the body, the primary function being to lighten normally dark skin. Skin bleaching how and why these black women bleach their skin. The overall findings show that there is a bias in jamaica for light skin over dark skin and these values are taught in nonformal and informal ways from very early in life. Even though our society is learning to appreciate the different forms of beauty across races, fairer skin is still coveted. Aug 19, 2011 chlorine bleach a solution of approximately 36% sodium hypochlorite, naclo and ammonia, when used together, can have very harmful effects on the body. This topic has done justice to skin bleaching or skin whitening as some people named it. The harmful effects of skin whitening creams september 26, 2006 cant help it but overheard 2 ladies in the airport lounge while on the way to manila for a lecture yesterday talking about how her skin became so white. It analyzes skin lightening as a problem and the effects of these different types of media on africanjamaican women.
Direct exposure to chemicals can cause effects at the point of contact. Mar 19, 2015 skin bleaching is one of the most controversial beauty practices around the world, a multimillion dollar industry in india and across the african continent and elsewhere. Skin lightening has ended many lives, yet people are still lightening their skins because of the feeling of low selfesteem. It is especially important to avoid exposing the skin or eyes to bleach when handling it, as such an exposure can cause severe tissue damage. Skin bleaching for instance, which is commonly used amongst the black community, considerably, african women as well as jamaicans is used to whiten or bleach the melanin, the crucial determining factor of the color of the skin.
Stop using hydroquinone and tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur. Skin lightening, brightening, depigmentation, bleaching edit on wikidata skin whitening, also known as skin lightening and skin bleaching, refers to the practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to lighten the skin or provide an even skin color by reducing the melanin concentration in the skin. Skin bleaching is the process of using bleaching agents to lighten the skin s pigment. The harmful effects of skin whitening creams september 26, 2006 cant help it but overheard 2 ladies in the airport lounge while on the way to manila for a lecture yesterday talking about how her skin. Skin whitening is used for aesthetic or cosmetic reasons to increase skin glow, radiance and vibrancy in. The two groups have almost the same average scores above the median, which indicates that skin bleaching did not occur because of low selfesteem. This report is concerned with effects on the black community and sets out to. It may be used to lighten areas of the skin darkened by hyperpigmentation, pregnancy or acne. Accra, ghana semiratu zakaru was standing in the hot sun on a crowded noontime street explaining why ghanas new ban against certain skin bleaching creams was. Over the counter bleaching products recommended for fading discolorations due to melasma hyperpigmentation, burns, and acne scars have been reportedly used in the whole face, with the purpose of fading skin tone. The epidemic started several years ago due to racism. Bleaching increases the bodys exposure to sunlight and the chance of getting skin damage and skin cancer. Apr 17, 2017 lack of data on skin whitening sw among cameroonian female university students prompted us to undertake the present study which aimed at assessing the knowledge, attitudes, practices and motivations of female university students visavis sw. Nov 11, 2016 skin bleaching practices, such as using skin creams and soaps to achieve a lighter skin tone, are common throughout the world and are triggered by cosmetic exposure to chemicals in the bleaching products, notably, mercury hg, hydroquinone, and steroids, has been associated with a variety of adverse health effects, such as hg poisoning and.
Hydroquinone is very harsh chemical present in the bleach which makes the cell of your skin completely dead and this if once happens cannot ever be repaired. The shocking cancer effects of skin bleaching the point. Pdf abstract many women and youthful ladies in ghana attach much passion to beauty than any other thing. Skin bleaching should be done under the supervision of a trained dermatologist, but too often hydroquinone cream, the most common type of skin bleach, is used without any supervision, which can result in uneven lightening of the skin and a slew of other undesirable effects. Soccer why are some jamaicans bleaching their skin to get lighter. Skin bleaching should be done under the supervision of a trained dermatologist, but too often hydroquinone cream, the most common type of skin bleach, is used without any supervision, which. Nov 25, 2009 bleaching increases the bodys exposure to sunlight and the chance of getting skin damage and skin cancer. Many african women want to keep their skin toned and beautiful by indulging in skin care products that bleach the skin. Intraracial color discrimination is a controversial subject within the lack b community. It helps to protect the skin from the damaging effects of sunlight. Bleaching is the process of whitening or lightening any material by the use of chemicals. In addition to hair on the upper lip and chin, many women also bleach arm and chest. During bleaching process, care is taking because excessive use of any chemical with higher content of any ingredients could be harmful.
Skin lightening in an age of enlightenment ryerson digital. Second, besides the known dermatologic effects of skin bleach, such as dermatitis, exogenous ochronosis, and acne, we should also expand our. This was considered to be a sign of beauty and also of social standing. This effect is more pronounced at higher water temperatures. Skin lightening or whitening is extremely controversial topic as it is closely intertwined with the detrimental effects on health, identity, selfimage, racier supremacy and colonial mentality. In certain countries like india and philippines, commercials popularizing creams with skin whitening abilities take a big part of television airtime. The skin whitening book secrets to an even smooth complexion kindle edition by briggs, katriona. It is now known that chemical bleaching can lead to serious skin and health conditions which include. First let me tell you what is bleaching, bleaching is basically the method of lightening the colour of the hair of the skin to match the colour of the skin.
The promotion of skinbleaching products in jamaica. Some people prefer not to discuss it while others contend skin color bias. What are the side effects of alpha arbutin in skin lightening. Conducting a social scientific research will help to answer the question of why africans are prone to skin bleaching, ways to inform the people about the effects of skin bleaching and skin bleaching recovery. It is said to be one to enhance ones physical appearance.
One reason for skin bleaching is to create an identity that is perceived as more socially acceptable. Skin bleaching cosmetics with inorganic mercury have been used to suppress melanin production. The bleaching process refers to removal of freckles, skin aging spots, scarring, or uneven skin tone. The concept behind skin bleaching is to acquire a better, smoother and lighter skin complexion, however, studies have.