The story of skin whitening is not new. Centuries ago in Japan, women would paint their skin white. They believed that this white paint represents beauty, grace, and riches.
Today, people do not use paint any longer. Instead, they use different kinds of creams, pills, soaps or lotions. Most of these products target melanin. This is a dark pigment found in a person’s skin. It is the pigment that gives color to the skin.
The most common chemical today that is used to whiten skin is called hydroquinone. It is found in many anti-pimple medicines to prevent dark pimple scars. Hydroquinone stops the skin from making melanin.
Hydroquinone is safe for adults if it is used the right way. But a child’s skin is gentle. Children can get rashes when they use this product.
Some people have found that certain plants contain chemicals that can whiten skin. Examples of these are the bearberry, the mulberry, and the pear. Some people tried adding juices of these plants to lotions, creams and soaps. But these products did not work. This is because the amount of whitening chemical in the juices was too small to have any effect.
However, some products with plant extracts seem to work slightly. These include products that have licorice extract.
Kojic acid is a special acid that can also whiten skin. This acid is also produced when rice is turned into rice wine (the Japanese call this rice wine, sake). Kojic acid stops the skin from making more melanin.
In the past, people used products called bleaching creams and bleaching soaps. These soaps and creams were very strong. They were so strong that they were able to destroy melanin that was already present.
Bleaching products are strong because they contain the strong element called mercury. This is the same shiny element found inside thermometers. Mercury is a strong poison. The mercury in the bleaching products can be absorbed through the skin. The mercury then goes to the blood, then into different parts of the body. Mercury can then harm different organs, making people sick. One of the targets of mercury is the kidney. In children, mercury can also affect the brain.
Today’s whitening products are safer than those in the past. But not all of them work very well. Also, there are still some people who sell dangerous bleaching products.
It may be all right for grown ups to use products to have whiter skin. But children have very thin and delicate skin. Products that are safe for grown ups can still cause rashes in children. So for you, the best way is also the safest way. Stay in the shade.
