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Wash your hands regularly and wear a face mask.
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The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It is an important outer covering that reflects a person’s state of health and overall beauty.
This is why people (especially those of black descent) are willing to do almost anything to make their skin look good and fairer (if possible). In Nigeria, this act is commonly known as “bleaching”. In fact, due to the unhealthy end results, people who attempt to bleach themselves face some level of discrimination.
But has this stopped people from bleaching their skin?
The answer is No!
More and more people in Nigeria spend a large percentage of their income on beauty products that essentially are meant to make them fairer and “beautiful”.
To be fair, these skin products do provide short-term results which often serve as an encouragement to people who use them. So while they enjoy this temporary result, the long-term effects of using these beauty products are unintentionally ignored.
Skin toning or bleaching products contain two main chemicals; hydroquinone and mercury. Both chemicals are toxic and are capable of damaging the skin permanently.
Hydroquinone was originally meant to be used in photo processing and hair dyes, while mercury is a carcinogen that shouldn’t be found in any beauty product. Unfortunately, their ability to rapidly stop the production of melanin (substance responsible for black skin) and make the skin fair has made them the major ingredients in bleaching creams.
This discovery has prompted many European countries to ban skin toning creams. Fortunately, some African countries are taking similar actions but the effects are yet to be felt. In fact, harmful skin toning creams are still been advertised on major billboards across in African countries.
If you are considering a switch to a skin toning cream, below are some hazards your skin will be exposed to.
Mercury found in bleaching cream is a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). It destroys melanin which is responsible for dark skin and protection against the harsh effects of ultraviolet rays that comes from the sun. Melanin is the reason why black people are not likely to develop skin cancer. However, those who chose to bleach their skin through the use of these mercury-containing skin products are fully at risk of developing skin cancer.
Have you seen a young person who has the skin of a 60-year-old? Skin bleaching is most likely going to be the cause. Hydroquinone and mercury contained in skin toning products prevent the production of melanin in the skin in an attempt to make it lighter. However, prolonged usage of these products cause the harmful chemicals that they contain to react with ultra-violet rays. This causes unwanted pigmentations on the skin (a situation where the skin begins to produce odd colours like green and purple).
Hydroquinone also destroys the connective tissues of the skin and the result is an uneven spotty and equally wrinkled skin.
Bleaching creams or skin toners also contain steroids. These steroids, if used for a long time, can lead to skin atrophy, a condition where the skin’s thickness is greatly reduced. People with this kind of skin are easily injured. A little friction here and there can lead to deep cuts, bruises, and abrasions.
In a bad case, the skin begins to develop lines or streaks (Striae). Believe me, these things are not pretty to look at.
Prolonged usage of mercury-containing creams can lead to mercury poisoning. A large amount of this harmful chemical can be absorbed into your body through your skin thanks to these skin products.
High amounts of mercury in the body can have an adverse effect on the brain and eventually trigger conditions like tremors, numbness and tingling sensation on your extremities, ataxia (loss of balance or coordination), and dysarthria (inability to coordinate words).
The use of bleaching creams may be on the outside, but their harmful effects can also be felt by internal organs. Mercury can lead to failure of the kidneys. In large doses, they can damage the liver and the brain as we have earlier stated.
The World Health Organization has always advised that everyone be satisfied with whatever skin colour he or she has.
This is because of all the harmful effects of trying to switch skin colours that are already stated above. If you didn’t know before, now you do. Black is beautiful! Black is bold! Be satisfied with your skin colour.
