Skin Bleaching and Its Effects

Skin bleaching is quite popular with many dark-skinned individuals especially those who want to even out their skin tone. It is also frequently used by those who want to lighten up their skin tone or want to get rid of those age spots that they’re sporting. The proper way of bleaching your skin is to have a professional dermatologist do it for you for better results. Unfortunately, there are those who are taking the matter in their own hands and rely on bleaching creams to lighten up their color only ending up with uneven color.

So what exactly can you get from skin bleaching if you choose to do it yourself? Here are some of its possible side effects if you skip having a professional do it for you.

Uneven coloring. This is a common side effect when bleaching without adequate knowledge and skills. Most of the time the unevenness of your skin is caused by poor application of the bleaching product or uneven pigmentation. When this happens, you’ll probably notice that some areas of your body are darker as opposed to others.

Hyperpigmentation. Another possible side effect of constant use of bleaching or whitening products is hyperpigmentation. If the amount of hydroquinone on the product that you are using is more than 2% and you’re using it for more than three months, there is a huge chance that your skin will turn darker and can no longer be treated easily.

Dryness, burning, and redness. The main ingredient in bleaching products is hydroquinone which is a type of caustic substance. Among the side effects that are linked to hydroquinone are redness, dryness, and burning sensation when you administer the cream on your skin. This is one of the reasons why it is important to use the right bleaching product and use it only under the supervision of an expert.

Skin cancer. There are 2 chemicals that are present in skin bleaching products and these are mercury and hydroquinone. However, if you are going to look at list of ingredients used in many whitening products, you will find that there are other chemicals present too which can leave you at risk of skin cancer. Tretinoin and steroids are some of the chemicals used in some bleaching agents which can lead to severe health problems especially when the product is used regularly.

Reduced healing abilities. Our skin has the ability to heal and regenerate itself whenever it gets damaged but having your skin bleached can damage this skill. According to a study conducted by the Dermatology Unit of the Department of Medicine in Lagos, Nigeria, the proponents found that test subjects who used bleaching products had poor healing abilities when they are wounded.

Thinning skin. Another possible effect of skin bleaching is that your skin can become thinner than usual to the point that your veins can be easily seen and that you are prone to stretch marks too. Your risk of suffering from various skin problems is also high when you are constantly bleaching your skin.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to have a lighter skin tone but constant bleaching can leave you prone to suffering from various skin and health issues. It’s quite tempting to take advantage of those bleaching agents that are being sold over-the-counter but if you want the results to be even, it would be better to discuss your goals with your dermatologist. With their years of experience and expertise, they will be able to guide on the proper steps to bleaching to get the best results.

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