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Are you still trying to lighten your skin? You may want to heed the FDA’s warning regarding skin lightening cream and skin whitening products containing hydroquinone. Not only linked to cancer, this skin bleaching chemical has been known to cause the skin disease ochronosis.
This skin disease causes adverse pigmentation or irreversible bluish black discoloration of skin.
According to eMedicine from WebMD, it is reported that 35% of African blacks exhibit ochronotic skin changes when using a 6-8% hydroquinone preparation over a prolonged period. The prevalence among users of these skin lightening creams has been stated to be 69% in a South African study.
In addition, by decreasing the the production of melatonin pigments in the skin, hydroquinone increases exposure to UVA and UVB rays deep in the skin. This increases skin cancer risks due to UV exposure.
Not convinced you should avoid skin lightening treatments and skin whitening products with hydroquinone? It has already been banned for sale in the European Union, Australia, and Japan for a reason. Or just head on over to my skin whitening products article to see some nasty pics.
Here are just some of the many lightening creams containing hydroquinone along with several other irritants such as fragrance and methylparaben:
Vita-K Solution (Skin Lightening System)
Palmers Skin Success Fade Milk Lotion
Skin Success Eventone Fade Cream, for Oily Skin (all Skin Success Fade Creams)
Esoterica Daytime Fade Cream with Moisturizers
Ambi Skin Discoloration Fade Cream, Oily skin
philosophy when lightening strikes, skin lightener
Reviva Skin Lightening Day Cream
PORCELANA DAYTIME TREATMENT SKIN LIGHTENING CREAM
Actifade Age-Defying Skin Lightening System
There are other options to consider. If you do your research (after all, the very skin you are trying to enhance could well be ruined for life), you will find natural skin lighteners and natural skin whitening products without hydroquinone, steroids, mercury or other harmful ingredients.
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- Published by Charlene in: Natural Skin Whitening
2 Responses to “Skin Whitening Products Can Be Dangerous Or Not”
January 17th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
While I agree with most of your assessment with hydroquinone and that it should be entered into cautiously due to it’s status in other countries and the evidence reviewed by FDA. I don’t see how your recommendation of just choosing a natural product helps. Natural products can be just as dangerous; such as several acids and even hydroquinone, which is also produced naturally by bombardier beetles. That something is synthesized does not entail it is somehow “magically tainted” (you’d have to establish how it was first “tainted” and not just assume synthesizing “taints” something).
What your post lacks is a clear direction on choosing a safe alternative to hydroquinone, or perhaps just acknowledging that we may have to live with the dark spots or skin tone. What it definitely needs is instructions on talking to a trained dermatologist.
I stumbled upon your blog looking for alternatives to hydroquinone, but I didn’t find a good source of established safe and effective alternatives. Your suggestions do not rely on evidence, but rather a fallacious appeal to nature. Nature is not looking out for our own best interests, and certainly does not care that we have immaculate skin. It would better suit the public if you provided sound research into the alternatives out there. Are they approved and safe and efficacious? What are their side effects? How probable are they?
January 17th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
This article was not meant to be a course on skin lightening products. My only intention is to bring awareness of what is already proven, the dangers of hydroquinone. A qualified dermatologist certainly is the best option for most people. My suggestion was for people to look into the natural skin lightening products available to them which would not involve the use of dangerous chemicals in their ingredients. And you put my writing into your own words such as “That something is synthesized does not entail it is somehow “magically tainted” (you’d have to establish how it was first “tainted” and not just assume synthesizing “taints” something)”. I never said that. My only point to this article was to let people know of the dangers of one ingredient….hydroquinone, not that all skin lightening products that aren’t natural are dangerous!
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