I was looking for some lotion the other day and noticed that I had to search long to find one that did not include a whitening agent.
Being curious, I also searched for soap without whitening agents and, of course, that, too, resulted with limited choices.
Most people consider getting a glowing tan a prerequisite for a great vacation. As a runner exposed to the sun almost on a daily basis, I kinda like my brown-ness.
But studies have shown a boom in skin lightening or whitening products in recent years, especially in Africa and Asia.
How do skin whitening products work? Most skin whiteners or lightening agents work by suppressing the production of melanin.
Melanin is the substance that causes our skin to be dark. Dark-skinned people have more melanin than lighter-skinned individuals.
By suppressing melanin, you have less melanin on your skin, and your skin becomes lighter.
The problem is that some substances available, and used in skin whitening products have been found to be harmful, especially when used long term, in higher doses, and if absorbed in large areas of the skin.
One of the healthier whitening agents used in most products is glutathione. It is an anti-oxidant which means that it actually fights damage to the skin causing dark spots and aging.
Glutathione is naturally occurring in most foods, especially in fruits and vegetables, and freshly- prepared meat.
The other more well known anti-oxidants like Vitamin C and E also help protect the skin. All three have been linked to positive outcomes when taken by cancer patients, although research is still ongoing on this matter.
Whiteners have other ingredients, but the two main substances to be cautious about are hydroquinone and mercury.
Hydroquinone has been linked to cancer, and has been banned in Europe.
The other harmful chemical is mercury. It comes as mercury chloride or ammoniated mercury. It may come in different names such as calomel, mercuric, mercurous, or mercurio.
Most research have shown that most skin whitener products in Asia contain these two chemicals.
Regulations on these products may be spotty at best in many Asian and African countries, and enforcement may be almost non-existent. Some labels may even be printed inaccurately.
The Philippine Department of Health has a list of banned and recalled cosmetic products (http://www.doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2012-018.pdf) containing high levels of mercury.
The DOH reports that adverse health effects of mercury can cause “kidney damage, skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring”.
Long-term exposure of high levels can also cause increased skin infections, “anxiety, depression….and peripheral neuropathy”.
DOH further states that toxic exposure may cause skin burns, gastroenteritis, and other gastric symptoms like vomiting and abdominal pain, including symptoms of kidney damage, as mentioned earlier, like no urine output and anemia.
The DOH urges anyone who may have been exposed to the cosmetic products on the list with these symptoms to seek medical help immediately.
Mercury is also passed from the mother to the fetus. It also does not breakdown, and may make its way into our waters, particularly the ocean.
Some fish have been found to have elevated levels of mercury.
Skin lighteners or whiteners certainly have their uses such as in very small quantities to rid of scars or age spots, or in persons with the skin condition vitiligo.
Vitiligo causes skin to lighten, and so some of those affected use whiteners to even their skin tone around the affected areas.
For most people however, the adverse health risks may not be enough to outweigh the benefits.
Certainly, at the very least, reading product ingredients and avoiding those with hydroquinone and/or mercury may help.
Obtain the long list of banned cosmetic products from the Philippine DOH website.
And examine the reasons for desiring lighter skin. Cultural biases and tradition are difficult to overcome but may be necessary to have eyes that see beyond skin color.
If you are one of the many millions of skin whitener users, I hope you are encouraged to learn more to be able to make informed decisions about your health.
Light or dark, we need healthy living to lead happy, productive lives.
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Author’s email: floridamsn@safe-mail.net
