Skin bleaching is a practice with troubling racial overtones. A September 25, 2007, article for the "BBC News" magazine discussed the controversy over skin lightening products after a lightening product called Fair and Handsome was endorsed by one of Bollywood's biggest stars, Shahrukh Khan. The controversy centers around the belief that the promotion of lightening products reinforces prejudices against people with darker skin, notes the BBC. Skin bleaching creams can also have dangerous side effects, making the discussion over the desirability of light skin even more significant.
About Skin Bleach
Skin bleaching creams usually contain hydroxyquinone and high doses of steroids, both of which can have dangerous side effects, notes the BBC. Products containing hydroxyquinone have been banned in the United Kingdom but are still legal in the United States. However, the Food and Drug Administration warns that testing has been unable to rule out the risk of cancer from the use of hydroxyquinone, notes NewsInferno.com.
Effects on Skin
The effects of hydroxyquinone on skin, the active skin lightening ingredient in the creams, can cause serious skin problems. While some dermatologists suggest that lightening creams are safe for use on small blemishes, such as age spots, individuals using the cream for overall skin lightening have to use much larger quantities, notes NewsInferno.com. Hydroxyquinone creams can thin your skin, causing bruising, stretch marks and broken veins, says the BBC.
Serious Side Effects
Another significant danger from using skin bleaching creams, especially in high doses, is the intake of steroids. Steroids can disrupt the proper functioning of the pituitary and adrenal glands, leading to hormonal problems, such as Cushing's syndrome, notes the BBC. Although an individual would need to use hydroxyquinone creams in high doses to develop Cushing's, the results can be very serious, says the BBC. The symptoms of Cushing's include high blood pressure, slow healing, depression and anxiety, bone loss and increased risk of diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic.
