Bad Effects of Skin Whitening
HealthyJakal.Com - Always read the label listed to find out whether or not the ingredients contained in skin whitening are safe.
White skin is often associated with the concept of beauty and happiness. This myth makes many women vying to whiten the skin.
Even though not a few whitening products on the market contain ingredients that are potentially harmful to health.
In 2013, the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) secured more than 74,000 units of cosmetic products that contain hazardous ingredients and do not have distribution permits. In the same year, 17 cosmetic brands were announced that contain harmful ingredients. Most of them are skin whitening products.
Melanin - Determinants of Skin Color
Like determining the color of hair and eyes, human skin color is also determined by the color and content of a pigment called melanin. Melanin levels in the skin are generally determined by a combination of heredity and the level of sun exposure.
Skin that is often exposed to sunlight stimulates the production of melanin which then makes the skin darker. In other words, melanin is a natural sunscreen or a form of adaptation of human skin to the natural conditions in which it is located.
The bad effects of ultraviolet are more preventable on dark skin because they contain a lot of melanin. This is because melanin serves to absorb and eliminate the negative effects of ultraviolet rays from the skin's surface. At the same level of sun exposure, fair-skinned people are ten times more likely to get diseases due to the dangers of ultraviolet light such as skin cancer than dark-skinned people.
Observing the Ingredients and How Whitening Products Work
The ingredients used in whitening products function to brighten skin color by fighting the natural melanin production process so that melanin levels in the skin are reduced. With reduced levels of melanin, skin color becomes whiter.
Each ingredient contains benefits and side effects. Some materials are categorized as dangerous because they cause adverse effects even in limited levels. While other ingredients can be tolerated so that the benefits are more dominant than the side effects.
Keep in mind, that generally skin whitening reduces melanin production, causing the skin to become more sensitive to sunlight. In the long term, its use can cause premature aging and skin cancer. With reduced levels of melanin, the impact of ultraviolet light on the skin increases. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light accelerates the occurrence of wrinkles and has the potential to trigger skin cancer.
Risky Material
Mercury (mercury)
Mercury or mercury is a metal that under normal conditions is a gray colorless liquid that is odorless and insoluble in water and alcohol, but soluble in nitric acid, hot sulfuric acid, and lipids.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is a chemical used in the photo printing washing process and is useful as a stabilizer in oils, paints, varnishes, and vehicle fuels.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that over-the-counter whitening products can only contain a maximum hydroquinone level of up to 2%. Meanwhile, if this product is prescribed by a dermatologist, it can only contain a maximum of 4% hydroquinone. The use of hydroquinone above 4% can cause a rash on the skin due to burning.
In Indonesia, whitening products containing hydroquinone were allowed to circulate at the same level. However, since 2008, through the Regulation of the Head of the POM Agency of the Republic of Indonesia Number: HK.00.05.42.1018 concerning Cosmetic Ingredients, the hydroquinone content in whitening products should not be used at all.
In detail, the regulation states that hydroquinone should only be used by professionals as a color oxidizing agent in hair dye and nail polish.
Steroids
Steroids, sometimes called corticosteroids, are substances commonly used to reduce inflammation, for example, in reddened and itchy skin. If consumed in high levels or continuously, this relatively strong steroid can cause cataracts and weakened bones.
Especially for the skin, the side effect of using steroids is thinning of the skin layer. If the skin becomes too thin, the person will be more easily scratched or injured.
Rhododenol
Rhododenol is a natural chemical from the bark of the white birch tree that reduces melanin production.
This material was actually approved by the Japanese health agency and was even used in several leading cosmetic companies in Japan. However, this ingredient has also been revoked by the Japanese government because it has been shown to have a negative impact on health.Combination of hydroquinone, corticosteroid and retinoic acid
Corticosteroids and retinoic acid are used commonly in the treatment of several skin problems such as hyperpigmentation (dark patches on the skin). But when mixed with hydroquinone, the product is considered unsafe.
In the long term and excessive levels, its use can cause thinning of the skin and make the skin turn pink.
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and its derivatives
Vitamin C whitens the skin by functioning as a powerful antioxidant that suppresses the oxidation reaction in the synthesis of melanin. Vitamin C skin whitening is usually given in the form of injections.
Safe Material
In general, many natural ingredients are safe and can help the skin whitening process. But even safe materials have the potential to have a negative impact if used excessively. For the sake of safety and health, users need to pay attention to the content of ingredients and how to use them safely.
The following are the ingredients contained in whitening products that are categorized as safe:
Kojic acid - This ingredient is produced from several types of mushrooms and is used in the Japanese sake brewing process. Kojic acid is considered safe. However, irritation such as skin redness can occur in people with sensitive skin and if used carelessly.
Arbutin - Bearberry plant extract that inhibits the action of tyrosinase, an enzyme that plays an important role in the formation of melanin. Long-term use of arbutin can cause some side effects including depigmentation or patches of skin.
Licorice extract - Extract of a type of legume plant that inhibits the tyrosinase enzyme. Lichoris is relatively safe. In the long term lycoris is absorbed by the body and can be at risk of triggering high blood pressure.
Chamomile Extract - Chamomile plant extract absorbs melanin pigment. This material should be avoided by people who are allergic to plants such as chamomile flowers such as daisies.
Mulberry extract - Just like lycoris extract, this ingredient inhibits tyrosinase activity and acts as a free radical scavenger. The lack of data on the side effects of using mulberry in pregnant and lactating women makes this group should limit its use.
Green tea extract - Inhibits the release of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes and reduces tyrosinase activity. So far, research has not proven any side effects for using green tea extract by applying it to the skin.
Alpha-MSH antagonist - Useful for inhibiting the work of the tyrosinase enzyme and the melanin production process. The side effects are not fully known.