Hydroquinone!! bleach with sense

A lot of women (and men) of African descent, use creams made with the potent bleaching agent:

Hydroquinone. The question is how informed are we?

Some important facts about Hydroquinone:

1. Hydroquinone works by hindering the enzyme tyrosinase, which is important in skin pigment (melanin) development. Melanin (gives black skin) provides protection against UV (sun) radiation. It is more effective than any sunscreen known to man.

2. Combining Hydroquinone with skin products that contain benzoyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, or other peroxides, (found in most pimples treatment) is harmful to the skin. This causes temporary staining of the skin. 4% and above hydroquinone concentration is generally considered by most dermatologists to be dangerous. It causes Ochronosis: For lighter-skinned women of colour (Indians, Chinese, Filipinos etc), dermatologists often recommend the use of hydroquinone alternated with less harmful lightening products. However, in darker skinned women (particularly of African descent), continued use of hydroquinone has been associated with ochronosis, which is a skin disorder characterized by progressive sooty darkening of the skin.

3. It whitens skin by killing your skin’s pigment cells. It also degenerates collagen and elastin fibres in the skin (Note: Collagen should be strengthened in order to have a youthful, smooth and glowing skin!)

4. Using Hydroquinone is counter-productive. It defeats the purpose which you want it to achieve. You want glowing, radiant, healthy and brighter skin. The long-term use only leads to these horrible signs and effects: unseemly dark knuckles and ankles, unsightly purplish vericose veins, a patch-work of colours on once beautiful skin.

5. It can cause irritation and contact dermatitis and increases the risk of other types of skin irritation and/or severe itching.

6. Even if you succeed in bleaching the skin whiter with hydroquinone products, it often has an unhealthy, pasty look . Also, once you stop using it, your skin re-darkens.

7. If you live in the tropical region, the combination of hydroquinone and the sun is a bad one. Increased risk of ochronosis have been linked to excess sun exposure while using hydroquinone. As such, dermatologists often recommend to always use hydroquinone with a sunscreen.

(Note: In the hot African climate, sometimes, even sunscreens do not offer enough protection for the skin!)

8. Most products with hydroquinone have an awful smell and cause intense body heat and sweating. Users often try to mask the odour by profuse use of perfumes which seems to make it even worse.