The white obsession

http://wwv.deccanchronicle.com/channels/lifestyle/bodylicious/white-obsession-020

Skin whitening and bleaching have become increasingly popular across the globe as people try to achieve a fairer complexion. But sometimes it can be quite archaic. Dr Geetanjali Shetty ,dermatologist and cosmetologist and derm consultant, suggests ways one can keep skin looking fair and clear, without damaging it. Explore the rights and wrongs of being obsessed with white skin.

Is white right?

The fairness craze is getting so big that a lot of people come even with a few month-old babies and request us to work on their fairness. Even stars like Beyonce and many others have been accused of working on their skin to appear lighter. Most of the fairness and bleaching creams present in the market contain a molecule called hydroquinone. Though the sale of creams based out of this ingredient is banned in the US, it is widely available in India. Some whitening creams even contain steroids.
Wear sunscreen every day to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun, which works by absorbing, reflecting or scattering the sun’s rays on the skin. Select a sunscreen that is a broad spectrum which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. PA ranking refers to the amount of protection the sunscreen offers from UVA rays. Sunscreen that indicates PA+++ offers the greatest protection against UVA protection.

Regular use of some of the whitening creams that contain both hydroquinone and steroids can even cause permanent darkening. Most of the fairness creams are best used only for a period of 15 days, but people tend to continue using them for many years at a stretch. Some salons and spas are also using whitening steroids in their procedures. Regular use of these can cause thinning of the skin and permanent fragility. Bleaching creams contain hydrogen peroxide that dehydrates your skin. These enter the pores of the skin and cause more damage than benefit.

Fairness is genetically determined and playing with the skin’s texture can play havoc. To prevent this, look for creams enriched with antioxidants, Vitamin C and E. Also look for portulaca and arbutin in these creams, which are not harmful.

Ray ban

When going out into the sun to ensure that you get the full SPF of a sunscreen, a palm full of application is necessary to adequately cover all your exposed parts. Reapply it every two to three hours as all sunscreens undergo photo break down and rub off with normal wear. SPF is a measure of a sunscreen’s ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin that measures only the UVB rays, indicating the amount of time a person can be exposed to sunlight without getting sun burnt.