Our society is marked by beauty standards that pave the way for practices that are more or less dangerous, in order to align ourselves as closely as possible with these beauty standards.
Skin bleaching is one of these practices adopted all over the world. This phenomenon is more prevalent in Asia and Africa.
For example, in Nigeria, three-quarters of women regularly use skin-lightening products to whiten their skin.
However, skin bleaching causes numerous dangers to the skin that can have irreversible consequences.
However, skin bleaching is not a new phenomenon without warning signs; it is the consequence of centuries of psychological and physical abuse that paved the way for numerous forms of discrimination based on physical appearance.
The consequence of social pressure
Skin bleaching is one of the consequences of beauty standards partly based on colorism. This discrimination based on skin color and facial features has its origins in colonization.
This period marks the foundation of power relations and a racist ideology that disadvantaged people with dark skin, broad features, and textured hair. Skin color thus became a marker of identity; people who conformed to Western physical ideals were more readily accepted.
"The idea that a mixed-race or white complexion is more attractive is the impression that one will be better regarded socially with a lighter complexion" - Leslie Carombo, cosmetologist.
This ideal of light skin has been disseminated throughout the world, particularly in other colonized countries—outside of sub-Saharan Africa—which subsequently internalized this process of anti-Black racism to align themselves with these Western standards. This is the case in Asian countries, where this process of alienation explains the high rate of skin bleaching. In Asia, dark skin is also considered an indicator of class and social success. since people with dark skin are often farmers exposed to the sun during their working hours.
This negative representation of black skin opens the door to numerous forms of discrimination.
What is skin whitening?
First and foremost, it's important to know that melanin protects the skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays, which cause skin aging and skin cancer. Melanin is responsible for the dark pigment in our skin, hair, body hair, and tan.
Skin whitening can be done in the form of lightening cream, injections, tablets, or even by the homemade practice of using cream with bleach.
The most common technique is the daily use of a whitening cream. This whitening cream has a dangerous composition, containing lead, cortisone, or hydroquinone.
Skin whitening is mainly caused by two main active ingredients: hydroquinone and cortisone.
Hydroquinone is responsible for skin depigmentation in the form of spots because it disrupts melanin production in certain areas of the skin. Cortisone, on the other hand, completely thins and denatures the skin, weakening the epidermis. Usually sold as a medication, cortisone has been misused as a cosmetic skin-whitening treatment.
The dangers of skin bleaching
The use of skin-lightening products can have irreversible health consequences. Indeed, skin bleaching causes:
- Cysts
- Acne
- The appearance of brown spots
- Eczema
- Stretch marks
In some women, it also affects sex hormones, leading to the appearance of excessive hair growth on the chin and neck.
Skin-stripping products leave the skin red and fragile, making it less resistant to impacts and leading to bruising. Furthermore, the cortisone present in some products damages the skin's elastic fibers. Once these fibers are weakened, they are unfortunately beyond repair.
In some cases, they can also cause:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Kidney failure
- Neurological disorders
And this is true even if you stop using these skin-lightening products. Skin bleaching is also a risk factor for skin cancer.
With the immune system weakened, it is more exposed to viruses, fungi and parasites.
While few suspect it, skin bleaching has significant consequences for mental health. This phenomenon can create a certain addiction, making it very difficult to stop once one starts bleaching their skin.
Did you enjoy this article? Following on from this one, check out our article on texturism , discrimination based on hair type.
