Is Skin Bleaching Good For Your Skin? Benefits And Side Effects You MUST Know

SKIN bleaching refers to the use of products to lighten dark areas of the skin or achieve an overall lighter complexion, as per Healthline. Products used for bleaching include creams, soaps and pills such as chemical peels and laser therapy. It is a cosmetic practice extensively used to enhance face smoothness and even tone the skin. Though practising bleaching more often has several disadvantages as well. It can lead to various skin problems such as irritation, sensitive skin, pimples, breakout, dryness etc.

Advantages of Bleaching

Even Tones The Skin

Bleaching the skin helps in lightening the skin tone, and reduces pigmentation and tanning spots. It also helps in reducing the appearance of wrinkles and freckles on the skin.

Reduces Dark Spots

Bleaching can help in lightening the dark spots and even toning the skin. It is also a great way to eliminate discolouration and age spots. It reduces the skin concentration or the production of melanin in the skin.

Disadvantages of Bleaching

Mercury Poisoning

According to Healthline, some skin-bleaching creams made outside of the United States have been linked to mercury toxicity. Mercury has been banned as an ingredient in skin-lightening products in the United States, but products made in other countries still contain mercury.

Dermatitis

Various studies suggest that skin bleaching and the use of skin-bleaching products can lead to contact dermatitis. Some symptoms of this include blisters, skin redness, skin ulcers, hives and swelling.

Exogenous Ochronosis

According to Healthline, it is a skin disorder which causes blue-black pigmentation. It usually occurs as a complication of long-term use of skin-bleaching creams that contain hydroquinone. People who use it on large areas of the body or the entire body are more likely to develop EO.

 

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)