My dark skin on its way to extinction!

A lot of women shy away from this topic, probably because they are guilty of the crime.
While some others act like they are ‘Anti-bleaching activist’, you would wonder if its genuine love for the black/brown skin or just mere ‘bad belle’(probably because they’ve not laid their hands on the popular camel/sheep/goat-milk creams. Don’t get your hopes up, this post is not here to have your backs either (Bleachers’ union).Brace up! This is going to be a long read.

The skin is undoubtedly the LARGEST organ of the body, and people like us in Africa where the sun is intense have higher levels of Melanin (an amino acid acting as an effective absorber of light and also responsible for darkening our skin when we are exposed to dangerous UV rays) which also leaves us prone to hyperpigmentation and discolouration.

W.H.O has stated that 77% of Naija women use skin-lightening products, making us the highest in the World!

So what is skin bleaching?

It is the use of chemical substances to lighten your skin tone leading to a change in your natural complexion completely if care is not taken.

-It can be damaging to the skin and organs.

-It is extremely dangerous since 80% of bleaching creams have toxins.

Hence, creams should be recommended by a Dermatologist/skin therapist and should be safe enough to solve pigmentation problems or complexion maintenance.

'good girl gone white'

How does it work?

These creams attack ‘Melanocytes’ (cells in the deepest part of the kin which produces melanin) thus reduces the level of Melanin which leads to reduced pigmentation and skin lightening. This process can graduate to skin bleaching through the use of creams with toxins which result in permanent damage of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin). Hence the protective mechanism of melanin is impeded, increased UV rays damage results and then voila!! Say hello to skin cancer! This works with the aid of substances such as hydroquinone, steroids, etc .

Get back in line!

· If you have pigmentation problems, seek advice from professionals, because we tend to abuse these over-the-shelf products.

for the love of skin, not this kinda professional pleaaaaase!!!!

· If you want to lighten for the sake of vanity or to attract the opposite sex, sorry babe, no matter how hard you try your knuckles, toes, ankles will tell us all the hard truth. I hear there are creams for stubborn knuckles now… see finish!

· * Maintaining a dark/brown svelte, silky, awesometastic skin doesn’t require a jaw-dropping budget.

*Bleaching is not an option! Keep it simple… keep it light and that haut chocolate would continue to shine!

· * For scars and dark spots; lightening creams with NATURAL ingredients is best.

· Most importantly, (for all skin types) keep the skin very CLEAN.

· * Exfoliate! Exfoliate! Exfoliate! At least once in a week to slough off dead cells that make your skin look uneven. Tips on home-made exfoliators coming soon!

· * Tone up, following exfoliation. NOTE : Toner helps to minimise pores and DOES NOT Lighten the skin as most of us are made to believe.

· *Always moisturize!

· *You can also apply treatment creams that work better at night while your skin relaxes and rejuvenates. TRICK! The pores open up more at night and sip in whatever you have applied!

· * Oils with anti-aging and healing properties are highly recommended, eg. Coconut, Shea oil, olive, jojoba etc.

· * All professionally recommended lightening products work better at night here due to the adverse effects of our weather during the day.

· *Always use a good sun block!