When did skin bleaching become such a good idea? One of the biggest trends in aesthetics is skin lightening or bleaching. Unfortunately, it is a very dangerous idea. The majority of chemicals are harmful and in some cases deadly. In some countries chemicals are outright banned for use, and in others freely used.
Why do you bleach? People worldwide are addicted to tanning, and bleaching is no different. Celebs like Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Keri Hilson and Lil Kim have been said to be lightening their skin, all for aesthetic purposes. Others from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds see “white is right” as a reason to lighten. A landmark US study in 2011 found that light-skinned black women receive shorter prison sentences than dark-skinned black women. In 2015, another study found that white interviewers regarded light-skinned black and Hispanic job applicants as more intelligent than darker-skinned interviewees with the same qualifications. Cynthia Sims, of Southern Illinois University, found a gap in career opportunities between dark- and light-skinned women in India, while a Seattle University study by Sonora Jha and Mara Adelman found that the chances for a dark-skinned Indian women dating online were “nonexistent”. Studies have consistently shown that in the competitive market for jobs and marriage, lighter skin has advantages.
Little do the consumers know that most of the components used in skin whitening products are known carcinogenic substances i.e. they are cancer-causing substances. Different products can lead to different side effects. These so-called beauty products increase the risk of cancer and organ damage — and “should be avoided at all costs,” the UK’s Local Government Association reported, further stating Over-the-counter skin-lightening creams are “like paint stripper,” according to a new public health alert.
The use of certain chemicals can lead to long term health issues. In many cases irresponsible manufacturers ignore the death sentence they sell. These warnings are ignored. There are many risks involved. Here is a list of some of the chemicals known to be harmful found in skin lighteners.
Mercury:It’s a well-known fact that mercury is a toxic substance. It can cause kidney failure and damage to the nervous system. It is another unregulated ingredient in most countries. We try to avoid mercury in our food, but mercury is, in fact, present in skin lightening products and easily absorbed by the skin.
Steroids:Steroids (or corticosteroids) in skin care products cause vasoconstriction or thinning of the blood vessels. This causes less blood to flow to your skin to give it a pale look. However, in the long run, this can affect blood pressure levels, blood sugar levels, cause depression and headaches. It also thins the skin so as to reduce melanin but this actually causes sensitivity to sun and UV rays.
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) and BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole):These ingredients are used in small amounts in food apart from skin products. Both are anticipated carcinogenic substances and proven to cause animal cancer, especially above a minimum limit.
hydroquinone. It’s been banned in the USA since 2001, and in the UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Long-term effects are a possibility; cancer being the most likely. Renal adenomas and leukemia occurred in animal experiments indicating the nephrotoxicity and carcinogenic properties of the substance.
Dioxane
This is a toxic substance used to emulsify skin creams and can contaminate cosmetics. It is unregulated in most countries. Constant use of skin lightening products has now proven to cause cell mutation and damage due to the absorption by the skin. These products also cause the production of free radical cells in your body that causes cancer. While cancer is the ultimate effect, organ failure, liver damage, brain damage, psychosis, depression, blood sugar irregularity etc. are some of the more noticeable immediate consequences.
What drives the misguided manufacturing of these products is that the use of skin lighteners is big business, projected to be $31 billion by 2023, according to Global Industry Analysts, and fueled primarily by the middle class growth in the pacific Asia region The list of companies which manufacture Skin bleaching and lighten creams with harmful ingredients is not limited to no -names. The World Health Organization warns that skin bleaching may come with hazardous health consequences, so why do we see a plethora of questionable chemicals in products manufactured by titan companies.
Shiseido’s :White Lucent skin care line includes whitening serums and bleaching creams. Also included is a power brightening mask, which is supposed to guarantee “deep-penetrating whitening.”
Consumer Health Digest revealed the active melanin destruction and prevention ingredient in Shiseido’s exclusive 4MSK blend may inhibit melanin production. Monopotassium salt, an ingredient in White Lucent’s secret formula, is also used as a pesticide, according to an EPA fact sheet published about the chemical.
Lancome: The Blanc Expert product line by Lancome has several bleaching products. According to Lancome’s website, Blanc Expert “features the latest brightening technology designed to regulate melanin production and awaken the luminosity of the skin.” The Lancome proprietary blend called Melanolyser™ contains a yeast extract that dissolves and prevents the formation of the melanin that cause skin pigmentation and darkening. Kojic Acid Dipalmitate is another ingredient used in Blanc Expert products and is known for its skin-whitening effects. The International Journal of Molecular Sciences published a report in 2012 revealing that exposure can lead to a disrupting effect on thyroid metabolism and can possibly be a carcinogen.
Clinique
Clinique claims to even skin tone by diminishing dark spots with its Even Better skin-bleaching products. An active ingredient in Even Better products is dimethoxytolyl propylresorcinol. This ingredient is known to inhibit tyrosinase, which is the enzyme in skin that produces melanin.
Avon:The Avon advanced skin care product line, Anew, has a collection of skin-brightening products called Luminosity. According to Avon’s website, the moisturizer and serum-bleaching systems are supposed to reverse the signs of aging by diminishing skin darkening that occurs with age.
The Luminosity line has several ingredients with known potential side effects ranging from cancer to immunotoxicity. Environmental Working Group reports the active ingredient Octinoxate has startling possible side effects including: biochemical or cellular level changes, developmental/reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, allergies/immunotoxicity, and organ system toxicity.
Fashion Fair:Fashion Fair, a Black-owned cosmetics company, has an entire line consisting of bleaching creams and dark spot removers called Vantex. An advertisement for Vantex Bleaching Cream promises to help “improve skin clarity.”
The active ingredient in most Vantex products is Benzene 1, which is a flammable chemical also found in cigarettes. Benzene has been banned in several countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the major effect of Benzene exposure for a year or more is on the blood. Benzene can cause harmful effects on the bone marrow, and it could lead to a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia. It may also cause excessive bleeding and affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection.
L’Oreal:L’Oreal claims 23 percent of global skin care sales, making it the top-selling skin care and cosmetics brand in the world. According to its website, the White Perfect skin-whitening product line is “enriched with Tourmaline Gemstone and vitamin C, which has proven action against melanin synthesis.
Another active ingredient, Octocrylene, penetrates the skin and acts as a photosensitizer. This results in an increased production of free radicals under exposure to sunlight. A 2010 study conducted by researchers from Centre Hospitalier Universitaire have shown that indirect DNA damage can be a result of prolonged exposure to Octocrylene. An increased concentration of free radicals can possibly lead to skin cancer.
Aveeno:Aveeno has a skin-lightening product line called Positively Radiant. The moisturizers and skin toners are marketed to promote a natural skin-bleaching experience. Aveeno’s website states that users will achieve “more flawless radiance.”
Although Aveeno products are advertised as a natural solution to skincare, their complete ingredient lists would prove otherwise. For example, one ingredient in the Positively Radiant Brightening Cleansing Wash is a topical antiseptic called Benzalkonium Chloride. Drugs.com reports that side effects of exposure to this chemical include severe allergic reactions (rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest,
And now, in the digital age, accessing the products and know-how to gain that advantage has never been easier.
In March 2019 MPRNews reported that After pressure from Minnesota public-health and environmental activists, Amazon removed more than a dozen skin-lightening products with toxic levels of mercury off its website.
In Asia, regulation is almost non-existent. Mercury is commonly found in products distributed in that region.
On a recent trip to the Philippines I observed whiteners being sold in corner markets, convenience stores, street carts as well as the large departments and drug stores. Most labels listed many of these ingredients. Others will be completely void of labeling.
Still the market grows as the desire to maintain a light complexion overrides health concerns. The manufacturers need to stop poisoning the consumer, and regulate themselves for a public good. The consumer needs to determine if they wish to be black, white, or yellow.
From left, Mary Blitzer of the Sierra Club gives a petition of over 23,000 signatures to Amira Adawe of the BeautyWell Project as they deliver it to the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Shakopee on Wednesday. The two nonprofit groups launched a campaign for Amazon and eBay to stop selling toxic skin-lightening creams that contain mercury.
Christine T. Nguyen | MPR News
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