Medical App & Medical Advice with Hello Doctor

Don’t go lighter – go brighter!

The skin lightening debate never goes away – should you do it, will it harm you, does it even work? Let’s draw a line under that conversation once and for all: brightening beats lightening any day.

Blemish-free

You’ve got clear, even-toned skin, but you’d like to be a few shades lighter – why? Having a blemish-free complexion is like winning the skin Lotto! Please don’t start putting risky chemicals on your face! Instead, experiment with new cosmetic colours, and try different looks. After all, you have the perfect canvas. Own it, like award-winning actress Lupita has! If you don’t believe us, listen to what she has to say about your beautiful skin tone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPCkfARH2eE

Uneven tone

If you have an uneven skin tone with darker areas, tackle the problem from both inside and out. Here’s the inside part:

  • Eat properly – which means more fresh fruit and veggies, and less junk food.
  • Drink enough water – aim for at least 5 glasses a day.
  • Get enough sleep – around 7 hours unbroken sleep per night. It’s not called ‘beauty sleep’ for nothing!
  • Quit smoking. Even if the health-risks don’t worry you, smoking ages skin and affects the tone.
  • Stay out of the sun! Cover up, use sunscreen and hug that shade! Nothing messes with uneven tone more than too much sun.

And now for the outside

If you aren’t already doing it, start (and stick to) a daily skin-care routine. Nothing does your skin more good than being cleaned, toned and moisturised daily. Find out what your skin-type is and use the correct face-wash, toner and moisturiser for you.

If you’re battling with acne, ask your pharmacist or doctor for some help. There are great medications out there to get your skin cleared up, so don’t just use a face-wash: rather visit your doctor to be sure.

For uneven areas or blemishes, you can even the score with just a clever application of the right cover stick or base. The key? Ask a professional to help you find the correct shade and to show you how to apply the cosmetic.

Keep all brushes, sponges and applicators clean – and remember to blend any colours well so that you don’t show lines or edges.

Risks of using skin lighteners

Still not convinced that your skin is exactly the right tone for you? It may help to see the kind of risks you take every time you use skin-lightening chemicals:

  • Redness or intense skin irritation/allergic reaction
  • Long term use can increase the risk of skin cancer from sun exposure or permanent skin bleaching
  • Exposure to poisonous mercury (many unregulated products may contain mercury)
  • Prolonged use may lead to early ageing of skin
  • “Bleach panda effect”: where the skin around the eyes becomes thin with increased pigmentation
  • A condition called Exogenous ochronosis: darkening of the skin which can be permanent and very hard to treat
  • Uneven colour loss resulting in a blotchy appearance
  • Steroids in some products can increase the risk of skin thinning, skin infection, acne, poor wound healing and other unpleasant things

Besides the very real risk of ending up with thinned, patchy skin, skin lightening preparations can be just dangerous for your health. To get an idea of just how dangerous, see the toxic chemicals that you could be rubbing into your precious skin: http://allafrica.com/stories/201408111885.html.

So, if you’ve used skin lightening products or you want to try them, think again. Your skin is perfect for you, all it might need is some tender loving care!

Read more: Want to know more about skin lightening?

By Joanne Hart for Hellodoctor.com

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/face/ss/slideshow-skincare-routine

http://skinwhiteningforeversecrets.com/natural-skin-lightening/