Eliminating All Possible Risks While Skin Lightening

Photo Credit: EcoWasteCoalition Blog

Over the years, the amount of dangerous skin bleachers and lighteners has greatly reduced on the shelves of beauty and drug stores. Unfortunately some are still being sold, specifically in ethnic beauty supply stores which often times obtain the products illegally. These products are distinctively shady in the fact they don’t list full ingredients or have shoddy packaging/design.

Dangerous skin lighteners contain mercury, high levels of steroids and hydroquinone (well above 4 percent). And you can bet these ingredients or percentages aren’t revealed anywhere on the product. These products are the reason many people look down on skin lightening since they have such harmful side effects – many people believe all skin lightening treatments out there are like this.

On average these products come from areas like Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, South America, the Middle East or Africa. There was a story recently that a store in Chinatown (Chicago) had a Taiwanese skin lightener containing over 1 ppm of mercury, which is horrifying. The effects it can have on the skin and liver are beyond detrimental to the user.

The odd thing is that the countries where these products originate also have strict laws and bans against these substances as well. The problem is vendors are illegally smuggling these products into their shelves because they know many people do not ‘know’ or cannot differentiate between a safe skin lightener and a harmful one.

In Baclaran (southern Manila) many harmful skin lighteners disguised as basic beauty creams were laced with mercury. Again, no matter what kind of government ban, these products will somehow find their way into the market.

It is up to us to be informed and really tread with caution when shopping for skin lighteners. If a product looks fake or just shady, chances are it is. Don’t even bother taking the chance. I’m definitely not going to say that all foreign skin lighteners are dangerous, but my suggestion is to use well known, trusted brands. Research the company, read reviews and empower yourself so you can get rid of any possible risks to your health. Skin lightening doesn’t have to kill you, and it’s sad there are products still being manufactured and sold that are intentionally harming buyers. It needs to stop, so let’s do our part by not falling for these products.

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