Whiter is not always better. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but it’s worth repeating: whiter skin isn’t necessarily more beautiful. The skin whitening skincare trend can have dangerous side effects and isn’t just about achieving a pale complexion.
The skin whitening wars continue.
It seems like every day, we wake up to another new story about how the skin whitening skincare trend is problematic, and the risks involved.
Now, you might be asking yourself “but what’s so bad about wanting to be whiter?” I mean, isn’t that just a personal preference? Everyone deserves to feel good about themselves—even if it means lightening their skin tone. But here’s the thing: when it comes to skin color, there’s more than one shade of “normal.” And when you use products with ingredients like hydroquinone and mercury (which are commonly found in some skin lighteners), you’re putting your health at risk.
What Is Skin Whitening?
Skin whitening is a cosmetic process that aims to lighten the color of your skin by removing melanin or inhibiting its production. It’s often used by people who have dark skin as an attempt to appear lighter. There are also products on the market that claim to “unclog” pores, which may or may not actually work and can cause irritation or other damage if used improperly.
Why Is Skin Whitening Bad For You?
Skin whitening is bad for you because it can cause serious damage to your skin. The most common ingredients in these creams include hydroquinone and mercury. Hydroquinone can cause cancer and mercury causes cellular damage, which leads to premature aging and wrinkles.
Some of these side effects include:
- Eye damage from prolonged use of bleaching creams (yes, this happens!)
- A higher risk of sunburns and sun damage overall
- Irritation from chemicals in creams and lotions containing hydroquinone
- Skin irritation and dryness.
- Most whiteners contain harsh chemicals that dry out your skin over time and cause irritation if not properly washed off after application.
- Sun sensitivity.
- Many whiteners contain ingredients that make your skin more sensitive to sun exposure, making it easier for you to get burned while tanning or spending time outdoors without adequate protection such as hats or sunscreen lotions/creams
Healthy alternatives for a healthy skin
So how do you keep your skin glowing without harming yourself or the environment? The answer is simple: healthy skin comes from within.
Here are some tips for doing just that:
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water every day (a minimum of eight cups per day).
This will help keep your skin looking healthy and plump instead of dry and wrinkled like an old prune!
Moisturise regularly.
Moisturise regularly with a non-greasy moisturizer or oil-free lotion that won’t clog pores or cause irritation (even if you have oily skin).
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables (especially those high in vitamin C).
This can help prevent wrinkles by boosting collagen production while fighting free radicals that break down collagen fibers faster than they can regenerate themselves when exposed to sunlight or other environmental toxins like cigarette smoke inhalation or secondhand smoke exposure).
The bottom line is, you don’t have to lighten or whiten your skin in order to be beautiful. If you want to improve your skin without playing into the media’s stereotypes, focus on protecting it from the sun and moisturizing it with natural oils. That sounds a lot better than chemical peels and bleaching cream, doesn’t it?
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