When it comes to the protection of the body, the skin is very important. Interfering with it may result in serious health complications.


A number of people, mostly women, from Africa, Asia, and Latin America use skin lightening products to lightening their complexion. This product can be in the form of cream, soap or pills but we'll be discussing cream as it is the most popular.


Skin colour is determined by the amount of melanin produced by your skin. Melanin is a pigment produced by cells called melanocytes. The amount of melanin your skin produced is determined by your genetic makeup. The more melanin your skin produced, the darker your skin colour. Other factors such as hormones, exposure to sunlight and certain chemicals can also affect your melanin production.


Lightening cream also known as bleaching cream contains chemicals such as mercury, hydroquinone, corticosteroids, kojic acid, tretinoin, etc. These chemicals work by decreasing the production of melanin in your skin resulting in lighter skin and a more even appearance to the skin.


The active ingredients of bleaching cream – mercury, hydroquinone and corticosteroids, have been banned in some countries because of the danger associated with them, however, it is still widely sold in stores and online though they are not explicitly declared as ingredients on labels.


People bleached their skin for various reasons. Some do it to feel confident, to want to belong, others do it because lighter skin equate beauty and to attract more suitors. The rest do it for reasons best known to them.


Whichever the case may be, long-term use of bleaching cream can cause serious side effects and adverse health complications.


Side effects of using bleaching cream


1. Mercury toxicity
A study has shown that 1 out of every 4 skin lighteners made in Asia contained mercury. Prolonged usage of mercury-based skin product can lead to mercury poisoning, skin discolouration, kidney failure, neurologic symptoms such as memory loss, insomnia and irritability. Women using this product while pregnant can also pass the toxic in mercury to their unborn child.


2. Ochronosis
Long-term usage of hydroquinone skin product can cause ochronosis, a skin condition that causes bluish black discolouration of the skin.


3. Contact dermatitis
A study has shown that long-term use of bleaching cream can cause contact dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin caused by contact with certain substances. Symptoms of contact dermatitis can range from mild to severe including: pimples, skin redness, itching, hives, burning, skin ulcer, skin tenderness and swelling.


4. Skin aging
Using bleaching cream for a long period of time can lead to premature aging of the skin.


5. Nephrotic syndrome
Bleaching cream containing mercury has been associated with nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder that causes the body to excrete excessive protein in urine.


6. Sun sensitivity
Long-term use of bleaching cream can make one's skin sensitive to the sun to a point where one can't stand in the sun for too long.


7. Cataract
Cataract is the clouding of the eye's natural lens which can leads to a decrease in vision. Prolonged use of hydroquinone and corticosteroids skin products have been associated with cataract.


8. Poor wound healing
Bleaching cream that contains steroids may increase the risk of skin infections, acne and poor wound healing. Prolonged usage of corticosteroids can also cause skin atrophy and fragility, edema (swelling around the eyes), menstrual irregularities and growth suppression.


9. Skin cancer
Long-term use of bleaching cream over a large area of the skin can increase the risk of skin cancer from sun exposure.


10. Leukemia
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood cells or bone marrow. Use of bleaching cream containing hydroquinone for over a long period of time can cause leukemia.


11. Glaucoma
Prolonged usage of bleaching cream containing corticosteroids can cause glaucoma, a condition that damage the eye's optic nerve. If the damage is worse, glaucoma can lead to vision loss or total blindness.


Conclusion
From a medical standpoint, and with all the above side effects, there is no need to bleach your skin.


Because these products are very dangerous once one start using them, stopping leads to more complications whereas continuing with it affect your overall health. Therefore it is better you don't use it at all. If you are already using it and want to stop seek help from medical experts.


Source: https://www.lagmedic.com/adverse-effect-of-bleaching-cream