The Snow White Syndrome
Since
the beginning of civilization beauty standards have been set and changed, mostly
driven by the lifestyle and looks of nobility and the ruling classes. Throughout
the pre-1950s world, fair and un-calloused skin was considered a sign of nobility
and being free from the burden to do outdoor work or manual labor. That's most
probably why in pre-modern times the word "fair" became a synonym for
"beautiful." Great lengths were taken to maintain pale and dainty
skin, including using lead and arsenic based makeup to fit the mold. Similarly
colonial rule identified white skin as ruling class and dark skin as slaves.
Looking
at the today’s standards of beauty, the world seems to stand divided when it
comes to skin color; half of the world population in its quest to look tanned, healthy,
just returned from vacation and living the high life is baking their skin under
the sun risking skin cancer. Yet among the other half, especially the skin of color
populace the pre-modern standard of alabaster beauty are still holding strong. Majority
of people in Middle East, Asia and Africa still identify beauty with peaches
and cream complexion.
The
fascination with white skin in some cases becomes an obsession that’s when I
call it the Snow White syndrome (an extension of body dysmorphic image). Under
its influence most girls as well as guys believe that only white skin is the
ultimate standard of beauty. Innocent youth gripped in its dark claws keep searching
for magical products to lighten their skin tone. This syndrome has fueled legit
as well as dangerous products to flood the markets that range from lotions,
potions to pill and injectables. To manage this syndrome we need to treat minds
rather than skin.
Looking At Skin Color Beyond
Prejudice
Dermatologically
speaking skin color is determined by the amount of melanin in the skin. Melanin
is the pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. People with
dark skin have more melanin. Apart from defining skin color and ethnicity, one
of the main functions of melanin is to protect skin cells form harmful effects
of sun, including skin cancers and aging.
How
much melanin your skin has is mainly a matter of your genetic makeup. Sunlight
exposure, hormones, skin damage, and exposure to certain chemicals can also
affect melanin production.
Changes
in skin color often resolve themselves. For instance, tans fade when the amount
of direct exposure to sunlight is reduced. But over time, certain
discolorations, such as "age" spots or "liver" spots, melasma
and hormone triggered pigmentation can become more or less permanent.
Anatomy Of Skin Bleaching
Creams
Skin
bleaching creams can come under many names. They are known as skin whiteners,
skin brighteners, or fading creams. They mainly work by stopping the body from
producing melanin as well as stopping the spread of melanin in the epidermis.
The result is a gradual lightening of the skin color.
There
are many ingredients that cause the skin to lighten, but the most commonly
ingredient used in the world has been hydroquinone.
This drug should be strictly regulated by the health authorities, and dispensed
only through a dermatologist’s office. Over the counter purchased bleaching
cream should not have a concentration of more than 2% hydroquinone. A
prescription for a bleaching cream can be written for up to a 4% concentration.
Many
popular skin-bleaching creams contain mixtures of steroids
or retinoic acid as one of their main
ingredients. One should be aware of the side effects of long-term use of
steroids.
Newer
and safer creams use natural ingredients like vitamin
C, phytic acid, arbutin, licorice
extract, nicotinamide or kojic acid to achieve lighter skin.
In
some countries, bleaching creams contain ingredients that are a derivative of
mercury, a chemical that is harmful to the body. Use of a skin brightening
cream with mercury can lead to mercury poisoning and other harmful side effects
as well.
In
the past few years, injectable and oral whitening solutions have been gaining
popularity to lighten the skin color, mainly vitamin C and glutathione. These
ingredients are powerful antioxidants, but they are by no means capable of
changing skin color. Used in wrong hands IV injections can lead to serious side
effects.
What A Skin Bleaching Cream Should
Be Used For?
Bleaching
creams are normally used for the treatment of age spots, acne scars, or
discoloration of skin as a result of hormonal changes. Because of the constant
exposure to the sun, some areas like the face and hands tend to suffer from
discoloration. Usually age spots and other discolorations only occur on the
upper layers of the skin so a skin bleaching cream may be a successful
treatment for the removal of age spots. However, in some cases people choose to
use bleaching creams to lighten the skin tone on their entire body, this is not
advisable.
Possible Side Effects of a
Skin Bleaching Creams
If
you think using skin bleaching creams comes without side effects think again, here
are some of the common side effects that can follow extended usage:
·
Premature aging due to steroid extended use
·
Increased risk of skin cancer due to sun exposure (without melanin,
your skin loses its natural UV protection)
·
Steroids used in a bleaching cream can cause poor healing of skin,
thinning skin, and even skin infections
·
Permanent skin discoloration (ochronosis) with hydroquinone.
·
Skin irritation or allergic reactions
Beauty Is Not Defined By The
Color Of Your Skin
The
dermatological definition of beautiful skin is: clear healthy skin with uniform
tone and smooth texture. Black, brown or white it doesn’t matter, as long as
your complexion is uniform and your skin is healthy, radiant and smooth you are
beautiful. You need to embrace and love the skin color God bestowed you with
and celebrate your healthy skin.
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