SKIN WHITENING CREAMS POSE HEALTH RISKS.

The cosmetic ingredient and drug discovery company Sirona Biochem with a proprietary technology platform developed in its laboratory in France, has claimed that its new compound for skin whitening has passed initial safety tests.  There have been many claims by other manufacturers ot similar products. However, such claims have remained unverifiable, and many women have complained of skin disorders after using the so-called skin whitening creams.

There is huge demand for such creams which is expected to reach $ 39.75 billion by 2019. This growing demand makes very attractive business proposition, and many players in the cosmetic industry are aiming at large share of this market.  Celebrities, movie stars, socialites, and everyday folks alike, keep claiming to have resorted to the fairness creams, though  knowing the long term effects of these. Despite the health hazards, the demand for such stuff continues to be strong in Asia and Africa.

However, past experiences of so-called “new compounds” of skin whitening creams have important lessons for the consumers. There have been frequent reports that the aggressively marketed and promoted fairness creams tend to reflect racist or discriminatory trend. But what is a lesser known fact about the billion dollar industry is that such products can land you with far more serious problems. 

Most whitening creams sold in the market are a dangerous cocktail of compounds like steroids, hydroquinone, and tretinoin; the long term use of which can lead to lethal health concerns likes permanent pigmentation, skin cancer, liver damage, mercury poisoning and other disorders. The ingredients in the formulations of these blitz products are shrouded in mystery, and awareness of their hazardous effects is low. While the stigma and the stereotypes they promote is a matter of concern, they are guilty of causing irreparable damage to the skin.

There are plenty of cases of side effects, especially among women in the age group of 20-30.  Dermatologists in India have expressed worrying concern at the growing Incidence of side effects among 14-15 year-olds. About 30 per cent of long term users report adverse effects after continued use of various fairness creams.

Skin lightening creams contain mainly two chemicals, hydroquinone or mercury. Many long term users of fairness creams report with a difficult-to-treat condition called refractory pigmentation. Lightening creams reduce the amount of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives human skin, hair, and eyes their color. Dark-skinned people have more melanin in their skin compared to light/fair-skinned people.

Besides mercury, most of these creams contain certain steroids, vitamin A and hydroquinone levels above two percent, that can lead to many health issues. Specifically, prolonged use of skin whitening formulations can contribute to skin thinning, premature aging; increase risk of skin cancer even from light sun exposure,  poor wound healing. The chemical hydroquimone that is used in such fairness creams may cause untreatable skin discoloration (achronosis).

On the other hand, there are superb plant-based formulations which have been used for centuries to rejuvenate and transform skin into healthy luminescent texture. HerballyRadiant is supplying such products in two ranges to its satisfied customers since 2010.