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Skin Lightening: An IntroductionSponsored Links
In many parts of Asia, South America and Africa, skin lightening has become big business. The popularity of these products has risen steadily over the years and demand has surged so quickly for a better cream, ointment, soap, lotion or even pill that many manufacturers have resorted to using highly toxic materials as skin whitening ingredients and utilizing unsafe production practices. Suffice it to say that out of a dozen skin whitening products available over-the-counter today, at least half are suspect. There are actually brands with active ingredients that can cause a variety of unpleasant side effects, ranging from scarring to kidney problems to cancer. In spite of restrictions and even outright banning, these skin lightening ingredients are still in use in a good number of products. Here we discuss three of the most commonly used ingredients and their side effects. HydroquinoneHydroquinone was once the standard upon which most skin brightening products were based. As the active ingredient in toners and astringents, hydroquinone promised an easy and pain-free treatment for common problems with skin hyperpigmentation by inhibiting the production of melanin. Melanin is the pigment that occurs naturally in human skin, producing its color. By preventing the skin's ability to produce melanin naturally, hydroquinone helps lighten skin color. Hydroquinone was the main ingredient in many skin lightening products that appeared in the U.S. market, becoming more popular thanks to its approval as an over-the-counter treatment by the FDA. Unfortunately, hydroquinone is not as safe as it was purported to be. There have been studies that linked the ingredient to a variety of health issues, including increased risks of developing cancer and causing problems in the adrenal gland. Some studies have also linked hydroquinone to ochronosis, a disorder that, ironically, results to darker, grayish-black skin pigmentation. Today, over-the-counter skin whitening products containing hydroquinone are banned in Japan, Australia and in Europe. It is still available as an ingredient for certain skin treatments but it is recommended with a dermatologist's prescription to ensure proper dosage and use. MercuryMercury, a toxic heavy metal, can also be found as an active ingredient in numerous skin lightening products, usually in the form of mercury chloride. As a reagent, it is highly soluble in water, making it easier to mix in a solution.
Even if used in small dosages, mercury chloride can pose a significant threat to health. Mercury is a known cause of kidney and neurological damage, as shown in laboratory tests in rats and in studies involving humans. Over the long term, the adverse effects of mercury to the kidneys, nerves and the brain are also irreversible. Mercury chloride, incidentally, is also an ingredient used in the manufacture of fungicides, insecticides, wood preservatives and for the preservation of biological and anthropological specimens. Before the discovery of antibiotics, mercury chloride was used for the treatment of syphilis. Today, the FDA bans over-the-counter skin whitening products that use even the smallest concentration of mercury. GlucocorticosteroidsCorticosteroids are hormones produced naturally by the body's adrenal glands. These hormones control the body's immune responses, regulate carbohydrate metabolism and help decrease inflammation. Glucocorticosteroids are a type of corticosteroid. They are being manufactured synthetically for use in the treatment of a variety of conditions and skin problems, including asthma, arthritis, dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. They are also used as the active ingredient in skin lightening products. Glucocorticosteroids are popular in certain countries as ointments and creams. They are applied to lighten common skin hyperpigmentations such as age spots and scars. Glucocorticosteroids are considered safe but only up to a certain dosage and length of use. As a treatment, for example, it is only recommended for continuous application for up to 15 days, after which application should be stopped. Prolonged use of a skin brightening product containing glucocorticosteroids as an active ingredient raises the risk of developing adverse side effects such as inflammation, acne, osteoporosis, cataracts and muscle weakness. The use of these ingredients for skin care is being monitored and regulated by the FDA. Such regulations or restrictions may not always be implemented in other countries, which makes it important that buying customers equip themselves with the right skin whitening information not just regarding the skin lightening product's efficacy but also its safety. Underarm WhiteningWhen spring and summer roll around, people start worrying about their appearance. Gyms get a rush of new members trying to lose that winter belly fat. Clothing stores have droves of customers buying new wardrobes. Going sleeveless feels great, but some people are self-conscious about their underarms. If your underarms are darker than the rest your body, it can look unsightly. Underarm whitening options can make things easier....read more >> Diet for Anti Aging: What to Eat to Stay YoungIf you want to stay as young as possible, you need to consider anti aging diet care. Here are some tips on what to add and take away from your diet to help you stay young....read more >> Anti Aging Products: Start at the Top!When you are considering anti aging products, remember that looking young is not just a question of your skin. You should start at the top - literally - with your hair....read more >> Anti Aging Reviews Help You Find the Best Skin CreamAnti aging reviews can be very helpful when you are looking for a new skin cream or other anti aging products. However, there are some points to keep in mind when you are checking out all of the reviews. In this article we will consider how far you can trust anti aging reviews. Are the reviewers just out for what they can get?...read more >> Does the Best Anti Aging Eye Cream Have to Cost a Fortune?It is important to find the best anti aging eye cream for the sensitive area around your eyes, if you want to prevent or smooth away the fine lines that tend to appear there. But some of the creams are so expensive, it is sometimes hard to imagine what you are paying for. What do anti aging eye creams do, and is the most expensive one always the best?...read more >> Anti Aging Skin Care TreatmentAnti aging skin care treatment is best begun early if you want to have clear and healthy skin right into old age. There are many things you can do to improve the quality of your skin. Some of them will be effective quickly but others may take many years to become evident. ...read more >> Choosing an Anti Wrinkle Face CreamMost every woman and more than a few men will start looking for a good anti wrinkle face cream as they get older. We do not have to be very old before the ageing process begins to show on a close inspection of our skin. Wrinkles (or fine lines, as they are called when they are small) are the most obvious effect of ageing and we will all have them sooner or later. The age that you are when you start to notice wrinkles depends on many factors including your skin type, exposure to the sun, lifestyle, eating and drinking habits, sleep patterns and stress quotient, but inevitably they will come....read more >> Natural Face CreamsMore and more people are turning to natural face creams and other cosmetic products in our modern world. The onslaught that our bodies suffer from the combination of atmospheric pollution, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and chemical fertilizers and insecticides in our food, is causing an ever increasing number of the population to develop allergies and rashes. While eczema and similar skin disorders were commonly a childhood problem that kids grew out of in the past, these days they are more likely to persist into adulthood and even begin in adulthood, as well as being generally more common and more severe than they were 100 years ago....read more >>
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