Look around you and the signs are everywhere. You probably know a
friend, aunty, sister, neighbour, colleague who is fixated on
skin-bleaching.
For women of African descent, the scourge of skin bleaching is made
worse because most women (and even men!) use creams made with the
potent bleaching agent: Hydroquinone.
Some important facts about Hydroquinone:
1. Hydroquinone works by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which is
important in skin pigment (melanin) development. It is important to be
aware that Melanin actually provides protection against UV radiation. It
is more effective than any sunscreen known to man. It diffuses UV
radiation and turns it into harmless heat.
2. Combining Hydroquinone with skin products that contain benzoyl
peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, or other peroxides, (found in most acne
treatment) is harmful to the skin. This causes temporary staining of the
skin. Also hydroquinone should not be used with any of the new
resorcinol-based skin lightening treatments such as Clinique dark spot
corrector.
3. 4% and above hydroquinone concentration is generally considered
by most dermatologists to be one of the most effective skin-lightening
and age spot-brightening agents. Overall, it is considered to be a bit
safe/less harmful for Caucasians and light-skinned asians BUT not as
safe for darker-skinned people (Africans).
Dangers of Hydroquinone:
1.) It causes pigmentation of the eye and permanent corneal
damage.This only occurs when the eye is directly exposed to
hydroquinone.
2.) It causes OCHRONOSIS(a skin disorder characterised by progressive sooty darkening of the skin.)
3.) It whitens skin by killing your skins pigment cells.
4.) Its counter productive as it gives u dark
knuckles,ankles,purplish vericose veins, a PATCH WORK OF COLOURS ON A
ONCE BEAUTIFUL SKIN.
5.) It can cause irritation and contact dermatitis.
6.) Even if you succeed in bleaching the skin whiter with
hydroquinone products,it often has an unhealthy,pasty look.Also,once you
stop using it,ur skin re darkens.And since using it long term is
unhealthy,its a basically a catch-22 situation.
7). If you live in the tropical region, the combination of
hydroquinone and the sun is a bad one.Increased risk of ochronosis have
been linked to excess sun exposure while using hydroquinone. As such,
dermatologists often recommend to always use hydroquinonewitha
sunscreen. (Note: In the hot African climate, sometimes, even sunscreens
do not offer enough protection for the skin!)
8.) Most products with hydroquinone have an awful smelland cause
intense body heat and sweating. Users often try to mask the odour by
profuse use of perfumes which seems to make it even worse. There is
off-the-shelf hydroquinone-based product(s) that’s so potent that users
have to constantly stay in air-conditioned rooms!
9.) It thins out the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis), which
is dangerous especially during or post- surgical procedures, as it may
take the skin a longer time to heal from cuts, wounds and/or stitches.
10). It ages your skinand as you get older the effects become even
more pronounced. It is not a pretty sight to see someone whose skin has
been damaged by prolonged years of hydroquinone use! Age gracefully and
not with disgrace.
Culled from Wholewomannetwork.org
