Harmful effects of skin bleaching

The beauty and cosmetic industry has enjoyed unprecedented attention and patronage in recent times to the extent that a shocking statistic revealed that about 75% of Nigerian women
make use of one skin-lightening product or the other.

Some harmful skin lightening ingredients are:

1.  Ammoniated mercury. This has been banned in the US and a research carried out by Southwark revealed that some antiseptic soaps contain mercury in the form of mercuric iodide.

2.  Hydroquinone is the most common skin bleaching ingredient. This has been banned by Britain and other EU countries. When used against the doctor's prescription, studies have shown it can cause skin cancer. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, "Hydroquinone works by decreasing the production of melanin pigments in the skin. Because the chemical lightens skin by reducing melanin, it simultaneously increases exposure to UVA and UVB rays deep in the skin. This increase skin cancer risks due to UV exposure, in addition to the carcinogenic effects of the chemical itself which is developed from UV radiation. Hydroquinone is also linked to a skin condition called Ochronosis in which the skin becomes dark and thick."
Hydroquinone causes premature aging and weakening of the skin as it damages the elastin strands in the skin. It affects the nervous system and can also damage your liver.

3.  Potent topical corticosteroids or steroids. Examples are betamethasone, clobestasol propionate and fluocinonide. Corticosteroids are legitimate medicines but any product containing this in UK must be licensed and be prescibed by a doctor.
It can cause eczema, skin infection, stretch marks, broken veins and can also release hormones that can affect vital functions in the body which can have deadly consequences.

If you have been using these products, stop now. You can consult a doctor if you are already experiencing any of these side effects.

Psychologists say that self-esteem and self hate are the main reasons people bleach their skin.
The World Health Organisation, WHO recommends that everyone should be happy with his or her skin colour. WHO also revealed that Nigerians are the highest users of skin bleaching products followed by Togo, South Africa and Mali.