Be Proud of Your Skin Colour

Be Proud of Your Skin Colour

Beware of "Skin-lightening Creams."

This write up was updated and published after watching CNN investigative study on Race in America, presented by Anderson Cooper and Solidad O'Brian, on May 17 and 18, 2010 @ 10 PM EDT/USA. In that study 40% of children of black race in America identified "black" as mean, wicked and less acceptable. About 60% of White children of the same age group also sees "black" in the same category.

No matter what! we are one as human beings uniquely created differently by God. In my travel I see some people in Africa, Southern Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East associate a lighter complexion with prosperity, acceptability, beauty and fashion. As a result, a considerable number of men and women in these places use products to lighten their skin tone without knowing the danger and sometimes at a higher cost to their health.

Some skin-lightening creams contain hydro-quinone, a bleaching agent that suppresses the production of melanin, thus reducing the skin's natural protection agent against damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Hydroquinone / mercury in a bleaching cream is not friendly to human skin, it is a lead toxin, and therefore considered poison to the human skin.

When hydroquinone or mercury penetrates the skin, it may cause irreversible damage to connective tissue. As a result may cause pre-mature aging or cancer in some cases. Continuous use of such products can cause disfiguring rashes, unsightly blotches and weaken skin. THE QUESTION IS: HOW FAR...HOW LONG CAN YOU CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN YOUR SKIN...?

Ironically, while some dark-skinned people wants to lighten their complexion, many fair and light-skinned people go to great length to get a deep "Tan" to look dark in colour. For vitamin D and (UV) moderates exposure to the sun can be helpful.

For questions about health and skin disease consult your doctor or Dermatologist.

Dr. Fenibo Braide, is a Psychotherapist at the Behavioral Health Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (May 19, 2010).