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15 Feb 2014

Bleaching Industry Looms In Nigeria

A good number of individuals would like to change the colour of their skin. They will always like to look unnatural. I wonder why someone who is black will want to become white. Most people who bleach their skin do that for cosmetic purposes. Most do that just because they see others do. Most people skin-bleach to enable them maintain their beauty during aging. Whatever may be your reason for bleaching is best known to you. Can we officially say that the skincare industry is officially the place to be? First we had “Tiannah Glow” from Fashion Designer Toyin Lawani (Tiannah Styling) and then we had “Crystal Glam” from Nollywood Actress Oge Okoye. Now, Nigerian/Cameroonian Musician Dencia is out with her skincare line “Whitenicious” by Dencia. Rara Avis, is a UK trained cosmetologist, beautician and skincare expert. She is also the brain behind some Nigerian ladies who claim they were born yellow.     However, it is very important that you know some of the harmful side effects of skin bleaching creams.

Side Effects
·    Hydroquinone is a very powerful chemical that is used as the key ingredient in the photographic process of development, but is also used in the rubber industry as an antioxidant, and as an agent in hair dyes. Mercury is another product often used in some cosmetic products as a bleaching agent. Severely toxic, it can cause skin to go grey or blue black, rather than lighter, and in many cases has resulted in the user suffering from mercury poisoning.
                
          Mercury Side Effects
  • Skin bleaching creams containing mercury should not be used for long periods of time. Mercury can cause poisoning, and mercury in creams can start accumulating in the cells of the body. Too much mercury exposure, or poisoning, can lead to liver damage and kidney failure.
             Sun Ray Exposure
  • Skin bleaching creams take time for full effects and to see results. Hydroquinone and mercury cause skin to be hyper-sensitive to sun rays.
             Peroxide Precautions
  • Benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, or other peroxide products should not be used with skin bleaching creams, especially when using hydroquinone. The combination of hydroquinone and peroxide can cause temporary dark staining of the skin. 
    Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
  • Skin bleaching is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. The cream can get into the mother's bloodstream and travel to the fetus.
·    Skin bleaching can cause allergic reactions. Some skins are very sensitive to bleaching creams and this could cause allergic reactions such as contact dermatitis.

·    Prolonged use of certain cosmetic creams, which contain bleaching agents, has been linked with poisoning, convulsions, asthma, leukemia, liver damage, anaphylactic shock and infertility.


                                                                               ILORI TITILAYO

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