It has been a debatable topic why women do skin lightening. Some schools of thought have classified skin lightening, toning, exfoliating, and skin cleansing as bleaching activities. Whatever be the case, every woman needs to pamper her skin, not to the detriment of destroying it. Besides if she doesn’t take care of her skin. no one will. For those craving skin lightening, because they feel it makes them more beautiful and attractive, there is more to the process.
Skin Lightening is the practice of using substances, mixtures, or physical treatments to lighten skin color. Skin whitening treatments work by reducing the content of melanin on the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives humans their hair, skin, and eye colour. Skin lightening, though milder than bleaching, tones the skin and brings out your ‘supposed’ original colour. Even some celebrities have been known to use it.
Before using any skin lightening cream, you should consider the following:
1. Bleaching and skin lightening are different
Skin bleaching creams work by reducing a pigment called melanin. By applying the medication to hyper-pigmented areas, parts of the body or face that are visibly darker than others, melanin production is disrupted allowing the skin to lighten and become more uniform. Sometimes, skin lightening products can include exfoliants that induce mild peeling. Beware of creams that add bleaching chemicals to them to give a faster result.
2. Skin lightening has harmful side effects
Skin Lightening creams contain ingredients that may have carcinogenic properties that can be harmful. In other words, they may increase the risks of cancer. There are chemicals that if allergic to might cause dryness, redness and peeling of the outer layer of the skin.
3. Never abuse skin lightening creams
When skin lightening creams with high hydroquinone are used for a period of more than three months, the whole skin lightening business yields negative outcomes. Though there is a possibility that this skin reaction can develop with lower doses, the risks are increased when the dose is higher. Overuse of skin whiteners can also cause pigmentation to build up in your extremities (fingers, toes, ears etc), causing them to look darker and uneven.
4. You can lighten your skin naturally
Instead of using harmful chemicals in skin-lightening creams, you can use natural remedies. There are many naturally occurring agents that can be found in nature that have lightening properties, like yogurt, orange, honey, and aloe vera gel. Also chemical-free and easy to find an alternative is Vitamin C. There is also some research to suggest that pomegranate extract and vitamin E oral supplements may also inhibit melanin production.
5. Skin lightening stops melanin production
Skin lightening creams often aim to interrupt the production of melanin or just improve the general health of the skin. Most skin lightening treatments target the skin’s ability to produce pigment, or melanin, which gives your skin, hair and eyes their colour. Everyone has about the same number of cells to make melanin but how much you actually produce is down to your genes.