 |
| Bleached man and woman |
If we are to be honest with ourselves,bleaching is not just a temporary trend. The bleaching game has come to stay. Skin bleaching dates back to the medieval times.
Wonder why it has remained with us? well, find out.
From Male Anal Bleaching,- Yes you read that right, Men bleaching that part of their body we really do not want to talk about, to women bleaching their hair and skin,bleaching should not be stereotyped to a particular people.
Many westerners, particularly celebrity have been accused of bleaching their skin, from American Singer Lil Kim to Beyonce Knowles, Nicki Minaj,Rihana amongst others.
 |
| Lil Kim |
 |
| Beyonce |
Although no one readily admits that they have bleached their skin, but their before and after pictures speaks volume of their skin journey.
Just like everything else, bleaching has its advantages as well as disadvantages. And if you must bleach your skin,bleach it properly! To avoid those scary bleaching scars.
There are a few Nigerian Celebrities who have opened up about their skin bleaching journey and how it has affected their life positively. You can tone your skin beautifully, avoiding those unpleasant sun tan.
 |
| Toke Makinwa |
Avoid harsh creams that contains strong chemicals like hydroquinone.
Hydroquinone is a crystalline compound made by the reduction of benzoquinone. This chemical is the main component of cheap bleaching creams- Top gel,Tura cream,Dermovate,Hot Movate and majority of those tube creams all have a high amount of hydroquinone in them.Try to avoid these creams.
Hydroquinone which has been a major addition to bleaching creams for more than 50 years, is said to lighten hyperpigmentation, melasma,liver spots,age spots,freckles e.t.c.
But in a country like Nigeria where temperatures could rise to 40°C, One should take it easy on hydroquinone usage.
Known side effects of hydroquinone includes; burning, stinging, redness, and dryness which could be mild or severe.
Always read labels
When shopping for creams, do not forget to read the label!!! It is so important to know what is contained in the substance you are about to use on your delicate skin.
There is always a leaflet inside the pack called information sheet.Manufacturers are aware that most end users never read through that leaflet,it is usually tossed away. They include the ingredients,dosage and even scary side effects associated with that particular product. You will be shocked about what find there.
If the cream you wish to buy is sealed and you can't access the information sheet until you purchase and break the seal, turn to the side of the packet,where you usually read the expiry date. You will find a table that outlines the components of the cream.
Next time you buy a cream or medicine, endeavour to read through or part of the information sheet.
You will be saving yourself from using expired creams and harsh chemicals on your skin.
Avoid direct exposure to sunlight
The sun's ultraviolet (UV) light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin.When this happen, the dead skin cells begins to chap,looking dry and aggy. Direct exposure to sunlight also causes sun tan.
Suntanning occurs because exposure to sunlight causes the skin to produce more melanin and to darken.
Rub day and Night, Blending your cream evenly.
Bleaching cream works like magic,they will turn you from black to white.But one thing they cannot do,they will not work in areas where you haven't applied them.
If you bleach, make sure to take time in applying your cream to all parts of your body. If your hands can't get to your back,ask a friend or partner to help rub it through.
Concentrate on your tough skin areas
The knee,knuckle,elbow is where you find the toughest skin tissue. Remember when you were a baby and crawling on your ''four legs''- remembering may be hard,but your mom may have told you how you where an expert crawler for so many months and was too scared to walk.
During those times, the knees and elbows trying to adapt to all wear and tear it is being exposed to naturally toughens and becomes darker.Hence it takes longer for skin pigmentation in these areas to clear off compared to other parts of the body.
Try to keep those area moistened,by applying a nice moisturiser several times a day. 4-5 times more than you use cream on other parts of your body is fine.
Use creams known to be effective and with less side effect
Do not mix cream yourself! Do not try new creams on the highly noticeable part of your skin to! (face and areas where clothes do not usually cover) Ask friends and acquaintances who have tried a particular cream what they experienced while using it.
And remember when you are introduced to a new cream, do not rush into using it on your face. You can try on your thighs to see how you react to the cream. Although everyone reacts differently to a particular cream,it is always advisable to ask questions.
I am not a bleaching cream expert,but believe me when i say, i am surrounded with beautiful ''successful'' long time bleachers. Who you would swore were born light skinned.
Being Black is beautiful,just as being light skinned is attractive.But at the end of the day, all that matters is your happiness. If you are not comfortable with the colour of skin,choose whichever colour makes you happy.
Article by Jennifer Idubor
No comments:
Post a Comment