4 Skin Bleaching Side Effects that You Should Know About
As you probably know, many cultures have bleached their skin for various reasons for centuries. This has been done for weddings, ceremonies, holidays, and various other reasons. The main purpose of bleaching the skin is to increase the outward beauty of the person- usually female.
But even though this was primarily restricted to certain ethnicities for years, more and more people are now changing the colour of their skin. As the world gets smaller and products can quickly ship from one country to another, women all over the world now use bleaching products on a daily basis.
Even though most of these products are safe, there are a few side effects to be aware of. The first one I want to talk about is skin thinning.
Side Effect #1: Thinning of the Skin
In some cases, women who bleached their skin realized after months of use that their skin was getting thinner. Some women even reported that a soft touch to their face would create a bruise.
Even though this usually happens on the face, note that skin thinning can occur on any part of the body. However, since most people use bleaching products on their faces, this is the most common area for the side effect to occur.
The best way to prevent this from becoming a severe danger is to go in stages. When you begin using a new cream only use a small amount at a time. Do this for several weeks, and pay close attention to your skin.
Is it more sensitive? Does it bruise more easily? Does it feel different than the skin on the rest of your body?
If no negative signs appear, slowly increase the amount you use. The most you should ever use is the amount recommended by the cream label.
Side Effect #2: Allergic Reactions
Millions of people are allergic to things in this world- but have no idea! This is because on a daily basis, we are only exposed to a small number of these things.
When your body comes in contact with a new bleaching agent- whether it’s a cream, pills or powder – you can never be completely sure how your body will react. Even though most people might be unaffected, you may be allergic to something in the product.
What would indicate that you’re allergic? Here’s a small list of some of the most common allergic reactions:
- Rash
- Shortness of breath
- Drowsiness
- Headaches
- Redness or swelling
- Itching
There are many other side effects to look for, but you get the idea. If your body reacts negatively to a new product, stop use immediately and talk to a doctor.
Side Effect #3: Sun Damage
One of the biggest risks with skin bleaching is increasing your body’s sensitivity to sun damage. People with darker skin naturally have more protection from the sun’s harmful rays. But as that skin becomes lighter, it also becomes weaker against the sun.
The best way to deal with this side effect is to simply know about the danger and plan accordingly. Be sure to use sun block – the more powerful, the better. Also try to avoid extended sun exposure when the sun’s rays are at their strongest- between 10am and 3pm. Remember that clothing, although not 100% safe, can help protect your lighter skin from the sun.
Side Effect #4 Acne
Acne is one of the most common side effects with skin bleaching. And because acne can greatly harm the self-image of both teens and adults, you should be aware that it might appear.
There are several things you can do to reduce the chance of acne appearing. First, avoid certain acne-causing foods such as chocolate and milk. Second, wash your face daily to keep your pores clear. Third, avoid touching your face with your hands. Your hands accumulate oil, dirt and grime throughout the day. Putting that junk onto your face is likely to make acne appear.
Also, you should be aware that if you’ve had problems with acne in the past, you are more susceptible to it flaring back up with skin bleaching.
When I explain these side effects to my clients, a lot of people ask the same question- “If there are so many side effects, what works safely to whiten skin?” The best product that we’ve found as per user reviews for skin bleaching is called Epibright. Even though it’s not the cheapest solution, it is the safest, most effective product that has shown to get significant results fast. For more information about it, please refer to our homepage.
Skin bleaching is safe, as long as you know what to look for. Always start with a small amount of the product and build up over time. It may take a little longer for your skin to get the shade that you want, but it’ll be a much safer, cost-effective journey to get there!
How Does Skin Bleaching Work?
Despite what a lot of people believe, there is a very simple reason why some people’s skin is darker than others. It all has to do with a pigment called melanin.
What is Melanin?
Melanin is the pigment that causes the skin to become darker. Freckles, age spots, scars, and other blemishes all receive their darker colour due to higher levels of melanin.
Likewise, people of certain ethnicities (such as African and South American) have darker skin tones due to higher concentration of melanin.
There are various types of melanin, and each has a certain role in the body. For example, Pheomalanin is normally found in the skin and hair of lighter-skinned humans, imparting a pink or reddish hue in the skin.So How Does Skin Bleaching Work?
Whether you’re talking about home remedies or skin lightening pills, creams, soaps, almost all treatments do the same basic thing. The primary purpose of skin bleaching methods is to decrease the concentration of melanin in the skin.
Most products used are lotions or creams that are applied directly to the skin. These often contain hydroquinone or kojic acid to prevent the production of melanin. Azelaic acid, absorbic acid, and arbutin are other substances used to quickly lighten the skin.
Proper Usage of Skin Lightening Methods
Most experts recommend only bleaching the skin for short periods of time with products that are chemical based. When you first begin, you should have an idea in mind of how light you want your skin to become. Once your skin reaches the desired tone, you should stop immediately.
Also, avoid bleaching very large areas of your skin. Although some people bleach their entire face, it’s recommended to only use bleaching products on small areas such as freckles, age spots or scars. A better approach is to use products based on herbal ingredients. They are a lot safer and can be used extensively.
Is Skin Lightening Dangerous?
You should know that there are a few side effects to skin bleaching, it is not considered dangerous. People have been using different methods to lighten the skin for centuries.
That said, we wouldn’t recommend just using any cream or pills that you find.
Which cream works best?
After reviewing dozens of products and user feedback, we believe Epibright to be the best skin bleaching cream. We found it be all natural, works fast and gives lasting results unlike other options. To find out more, please check out our homepage.
You may also consider using natural methods such as lemon juice. However, know that natural methods are generally not as effective or give long term results as creams such as Epibright.
How Long Does Skin Bleaching Take?
It depends on a number of things:
- The area that you are bleaching
- How light you want the skin to become
- What product you are using
- Your diet
- How much time you spend in the sun
Generally, we recommend giving the product at least 4-6 weeks to achieve the desired results.
Is Skin Bleaching Permanent?
We receive a lot of questions about the permanence of skin bleaching. The bottom line is that skin bleaching is not permanent. Once your skin has been bleached to your desired tone, you will need to regularly apply a skin whitening product to keep that colour. As soon as you stop using a product, your skin will slowly darken until it has regained its natural colour.
Note that maintaining lighter skin requires less effort than actually lightening the skin. Once your skin has reached the desired tone, we recommend using less cream than the recommended amount on the tube. This will allow your skin to still inhibit melanin production, but not to the point of lightening the skin further.
Hydrogen Peroxide to Bleach Skin
Have you ever used hydrogen peroxide on a cut or scrape? If so, you probably noticed that the skin around it got a bit whiter. This leads many people to question whether or not this is a safe way to bleach the skin.
The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. First let’s talk about what hydrogen peroxide really is.
What is Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide is a compound composed of half hydrogen, half oxygen. In other words, the molecular makeup is similar to water (H2O), since hydrogen peroxide is H2O2.
That said, there are huge differences between water and hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide is a strong oxidizer, and is often used as a whitening agent. For example, you can put small amounts of hydrogen peroxide in your hair to help it become lighter- especially in the sun.
But how does this affect the skin?
Hydrogen Peroxide’s Bleaching Effect on the Skin
As noted earlier, skin that comes into contact with hydrogen peroxide becomes whiter. Since many people want to whiten their skin, they think this may be a reasonable option.
However, the bleaching effect of this compound on this skin is not permanent. In fact, it usually doesn’t even last an entire day. Instead of inhibiting melanin production (which in turn lightens the skin), hydrogen peroxide causes what is called a capillary embolism. In other words, it causes less blood to flow into the capillaries under the skin for a short period of time. Since you don’t have as much blood flowing under the skin, the skin will appear whiter in colour.
As your body carries out regular functions throughout the day, the whitening effect rapidly goes away.
Can I Use Hydrogen Peroxide Regularly to Safely Bleach My Skin?
We don’t recommend it. Although it is safe in small doses, hydrogen peroxide is not a natural compound for your skin to interact with. And since the effect is temporary, you will be spending a lot of time putting the liquid on your skin with minimal benefit.
In addition- your body is supposed to constantly be transporting blood to every inch of the body. By using hydrogen peroxide, you are temporarily slowing the amount of blood going to that area. Doing this on a regular basis is not a good thing!
Are there Ways to Use Hydrogen Peroxide with Other, Safer Methods?
Some people include hydrogen peroxide in the face masks they use for skin whitening. For example, you can mix together milk, hydrogen peroxide, papaya and honey for a very effective skin whitening face mask. This can help you eliminate dark patches on skin, make your skin one shade lighter, and get results within just a week or two.
However, anything that uses hydrogen peroxide is only including the compound to get faster results. Whether or not those results are safe- considering that you now have less blood flowing to the area- is a different matter.
So What Should I Use Instead of Hydrogen Peroxide?
We always recommend using more natural methods. For example, many foods such as papaya, honey, oatmeal, potato, lemon juice, and milk are great skin whitening agents.
You can bleach your skin by both eating these foods and making face masks with them. Results will not come extremely quickly, but you should see results within about 6 weeks.
Another option is skin bleaching pills. Some pills are very effective, although they often contain chemical bleaching agents. They may not necessarily be unsafe for your body, because they were (likely) approved by the FDA, but you should still know the ingredients.
Many women like using skin whitening soaps. These are good because you can clean your skin and whiten it at the same time. You’ll find that these soaps often have the natural ingredients listed above such as papaya. But excess usage of soap can make your skin dry and more susceptible to problems like acne, rosaceous and rashes.
Finally – you can try using lotions or creams. Skin whitening creams are usually the best way to go. You can use them anywhere, they aren’t messy, and they get the fastest results.
Skin Bleaching Soap
It’s baffling to see how many different kinds of skin bleaching soaps are on the market these days. And since new ones come out every day, it’s no wonder people are confused about which one to use.
But at least by the time you are done reading this article, you’ll know what to look for, what not to look for, and how to save a lot of money over the next few months!
Skin Lightening Soaps- Do They Even Work?
YES! Well, at least some of them do. To be honest, it really just depends on the active ingredients in the soap. Some ingredients- such as lemon juice or papaya- work much better than others.
What Types of Soap Work Best?
We always recommend using natural products if you can. Whether its soap, pills, lotions or creams- get it in your mind that natural is better.
As far as the specific ingredients that work best, here are a few that we recommend:
Glutathione:
This is an antioxidant that is also very effective at skin whitening. Even though some people don’t consider it as natural as something such as papaya, the bottom line is that it works very well and does exist in nature. In other words, it’s not a man-made chemical agent.
Papaya:
Papaya is an amazing fruit! Besides just being tasty, it is also extremely healthy for you. Regarding skin health, its best contributions are Vitamins A, C, E and K. These neutralize free radicals, strength your skin’s collagen, and protect you from the sun’s harmful rays.
Lemon:
Citrus fruits – especially lemons- have a lot of Vitamin C. Even though this vitamin does not reduce melanin production, it is one of the most important nutrients for your body. It makes your skin appear brighter because by removing free radicals and fighting inflammation, it reduces the appearance of most blemishes on the skin.
Milk:
Milk is one of the healthiest foods that we consume on a daily basis. It has a lot of vitamins, as well as essential protein and fats. It’s also a very common ingredient in skin whitening home remedies such as face masks.
Honey:
Did you know that raw, organic honey is a powerful healing agent? Similar to Vitamin C, honey helps your body’s immune system fight off free radicals, inflammation, and remove waste. This helps your skin get the nutrients that it needs and appear brighter.
Aloe:
Not just for soothing sunburns, aloe is also great for your skin year round. Some brands of soap contain aloe because of the fresh smell, as well as the cool, “fresh” feeling that it provides.
Other examples of natural ingredients that you find in soaps are oatmeal, carrots, peppermint and Shea butter. Even though these work okay, they don’t seem to be as effective as the ingredients listed above.
Where Can I Buy Skin Whitening Soaps?
Even though some beauty stores sell them, your best bet is to buy them online. Not only does this give you a huge selection to choose from, but you can also read reviews and save a lot of money over time.
Note that you can also (usually) save money if you purchase larger amounts at once.
What is the Best Skin Bleaching Product for Dark Skin Tones?
You probably know this, but there are a lot of different skins lightening products out there right now. Besides just soaps, you can also find pills, lotions, creams and home remedies.
Even though each of these has its place, there is only one method that has really stood the test of time as being the best. Over the years, we’ve noticed that creams almost always out-perform the other methods.
Why? We believe that the main reason is due to the science behind it. Scientists and engineers can now concentrate the most powerful skin bleaching agents into affordable, over-the-counter creams. And even though these ingredients often go into pills as well- they tend to be more effective when directly applied to the skin.
Skin Bleaching Tablets
Every year we see more and more skin bleaching tablets come into the market. Some work – some don’t. Some are dangerous – some aren’t. So how do you know what to look for? And if these pills really work? This article will help answer those questions.
Do Skin Bleaching Pills Work?
The short answer is – it depends. Some of these tablets work extremely well, no matter if you have brown or black skin. Others never seem to get any results, no matter how long you use them.
It basically comes down to 2 main things:
- Ingredients of the pill
- Skin health
Many pills come with an ingredient called glutathione. This is an anti-oxidant which has been linked to skin whitening for some time now.
The good news is that glutathione is a naturally occurring compound in nature. Unlike many chemical skin bleaching agents, this one doesn’t need to be manufactured in a lab. And because it’s an anti-oxidant, it’s actually good for your whole body- not just for lightening the skin.
Another compound often found in pills is called hydroquinone. It disrupts the production of melanin, causing the skin to look whiter over time. This is proven to be one of the most effective ingredients in skin lightening products, and is found in many tablets.
There are a lot of other ingredients you may also find in skin bleaching tablets. Vitamin C, Kojic acid, and Azelaic acid are just a few examples. Each of these is effective in its own way- but don’t forget that your skin’s health is also important in regards to skin bleaching.
If you have very unhealthy skin, it will generally take longer for any skin whitening method to get results. Whether you’re using pills, creams or soaps, the first step is always to help the skin get healthier. The best way to do this is with a good moisturizing cream, and a diet full of fruits and veggies.
Do Skin Bleaching Tablets have Side Effects?
Usually the pills with natural ingredients such as Vitamin C and glutathione do not have side effects associated with them. Just make sure that you don’t use them for extended periods of time. Just like anything else, you can actually get too much glutathione into your body.
If you try chemical-based pills, those are a bit different. It’s difficult to say what kind of side effects you may experience, because it all depends on the chemicals placed into the pills. Generally, we recommend staying away from these products. Your body doesn’t need these kinds of chemicals coming in- especially when there are safer, natural alternatives.
Are Skin Bleaching Tablets Expensive?
Again- it depends. Some are fairly expensive, some are extremely cheap. Note that you almost always get what you pay for, so the cheaper pills are likely to be less effective as the more expensive brands.
How Fast Does it Take with Pills to Whiten the Skin?
The thing with pills is that you can’t just target one specific area of your body. All of your skin will get lighter over time. This is a good thing and a bad thing.
The good thing about having all of your skin get lighter at once is that you keep an even skin tone. So your whole body will get one shade lighter at a time, instead of being unbalanced.
The downside is that usually pills take longer than other methods, such as creams or soaps. This is just because the effect is spread throughout the whole body- not concentrated in the areas you want.
What Other Methods are Out there for Skin Whitening?
You mainly have 4 options when it comes to bleaching your skin. You can either use:
- Lotions and creams
- Pills/tablets
- Home remedies
- Soaps
From what we’ve seen, creams tend to give the best results. Even though the other methods have their places, user reviews state that fastest results come from a good, natural cream.
What is the Best Skin Bleaching Product for Dark Skin Complexion?
Black people have an especially difficult time lightening the skin. Because African Americans have the highest amount of melanin in their skin, it takes a very effective product to make it appear lighter.
From the consumer feedback we’ve seen, the best product to use is called Epibright. It’s a skin whitening cream that uses natural ingredients. And even though it’s not the most popular skin whitening cream on the market right now, it’s quickly becoming the #1 brand.