Random Facts About Skin Whitening Trend That Might Disturb You (14 items)

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  (#12) A Form Of Skin Discoloration Called Ochronosis Is A Frequent Side Effect

  The potent and prominent skin bleaching agent, hydroquinone, can actually cause skin to darken significantly with severe patchiness. A build up of the powerful chemical, homogetisic acid, can cause a skin discoloration condition called ochronosis.

  In people with ochronosis, the bleaching process basically backfires, and black and yellow patches form on the skin's connective tissue. Some people continue to apply the topical bleaching agent even after the effects of ochronosis begin to show, assuming that the reaction will reverse with continued use.
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  (#7) It's Riddled With Racist Ideals Of Beauty

  The process of skin whitening is associated with extremely racist and colorist ideals of beauty, especially in Asia and Africa. Instead of being marketed as a cosmetic corrector and blemish remover, these products are often pushed by convincing their audience that darker skin is undesirable and will lead to a lower quality of life.

  Playing into and reinforcing these racist views doesn't seem to be an issue for the companies that make skin lightening products; they capitalize on the idea that whiter skin brings better financial and social status in areas where these beliefs already exist due to religious or historical reasons.
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  (#10) The Skin Lightening Business Is A Multibillion Dollar Cash Cow

  Companies that push skin lightening products make huge profits. The industry in general rakes in billions of dollars every year, and popular brand names like L’Oreal, Vaseline, and Unilever are just some of the major players in the skin lightening game. Unfortunately, the dangerous industry is only expected to grow over the next few years.
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  (#14) International Celebrities Endorse Skin Whitening Creams Across The World

  Huge celebrities promote the use of skin whitening products, starring in commercials and participating in endorsement campaigns. Bollywood celebrities appear on television and billboards to show off their fair skin and the cream that supposedly helped them obtain it. Even former Harry Potter star Emma Watson flaunts her lack of blemishes, thanks to her whitening cream, of course.

  Beauty product mega-brands such as Fair & Lovely and L'Oréal use equally popular models to push their whitening creams. These young and influential stars can easily sell a product by showing off how seemingly flawless their skin has become as a result, never mentioning the seedy and dangerous business practices that go into selling these chemical-filled creams.
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  (#3) Anal Bleaching Can Be Dangerous

  Health experts warn that anal bleaching, which often involves waxing and whitening, could result in some nasty consequences. While spas and technicians sell you on the initial bleaching process, you might walk away with medical complications not mentioned at the outset.

  Rips, tears, sensitivity, and strictures could occur if the bleaching is carried out by a spa technician and not a dedicated MD. If the spa doesn't practice proper hygiene, bacterial infections and viruses could also find their way into the body.
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  (#9) Some Countries Have Banned Skin Whitening Advertisements And Products

  Many areas have banned certain skin lightening advertisements and products, either due to their projection of racist ideals for the sake of "beauty" or for the dangerous chemicals that the products contain. India has made moves to ban commercials that show anyone with dark skin portrayed in an inferior way, meaning that skin whitening products that use colorist language to appeal to consumers have been banned from the air. Ivory Coast and Ghana have also banned skin whitening products in an effort to thwart the circulation of unregulated and dangerous merchandise.

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