How fair are your fairness creams?

The Article

Roman philosopher Plautus was an upfront man, he liked minced meat but mincing words was not his cup of tea. He was of the opinion that, ‘a woman without paint is like food without salt’. This quote literally send women running helter-skelter in search of anything and everything that would help make them fair and lovely.

Unfortunately being fair is not an adjective that really pertains to the mind. Being fair is all about looking white and fitting in with the stereotyped illogical thinking of the majority of the population that being fair is indeed beautiful and that being fair is the only way to be lovely and loved.

India is the safe haven for the fairness cream industry. Despite being home to a predominantly brown skinned population, this mindset where anything other than white was considered undesirable and lowly originated as a part of the white supremacy to keep the Indian majority suppressedfor about 200 years. Sadly even till this day like many obstinate ideas from those times that still prevail in Indian society, being fair or at least joining the bandwagon to become fairer is a senseless reality.

The ingredients in almost every skin lightening cream are similar and potentially hazardous to skin and health, much unlike their advertisements which are detrimental to sanity. Certain fairness creams divulge too little information on the package. This should not be taken lightly as too little information was never a good thing.

Hydroquinone:

This ingredient is renowned for its bleaching properties due to its ability to inhibit melanin production. It is banned in Japan, Europe and Australia. Hydroquinone is known to cause skin allergy, extreme eye irritation and carcinogenic effects.

Hydroxyethyl Urea

Although prescribed as a topical medicine for skin ailments, it is a common ingredient in moisturizers and fairness creams available in the market today. It also has the bad reputation of causing adverse skin reactions.

Mercury

Mercury is notorious for its nerve toxicity effects majorly and also for its ill effects to nervous, respiratory and immune systems. As it gets easily absorbed from skin, Mercury is extremely dangerous to the developing foetus in pregnant women.It is found in thimerosal, a popular preservative added to creams and lotions.

Parabens

Methyl paraben andpropyl paraben are a couple of members belonging to this dangerous family of chemicals. Parabens are proven to decrease sperm count and also cause carcinogenic changes in breast tissue.

Fairness creams do not undergo a rigorous cascade of safety tests as the moment a cream is not medicinal the testing process gets too lenient. Roping in celebrities who are already fair and yet attain CFL like glow at the end of the advertisementafter using the skin whitening product helps the brand garner great visibility and reach.

Thinning of skin and photosensitivity reactions in skin that has been damaged by regular application of fairness creams has scientifically proven evidence. According to estimates the industry is worth Rs 3000 crore, this whopping number is the product of our opinionated majority with the view that beautiful women and men are fair and anything that claims to get us there, we must have it.

Being dark is not a sin, being a prejudiced dumbass who judges people based on skin tone, well that is a sin. Celebrities like KanganaRanaut, Nandita Das,Akshay Kumar are a few celebrities who have spoken against the maddening fascination of the masses with fair skin. Dusky or dark complexioned skin is as unique and attractive as fair skin. Real beauty is a combination of skin tone, features, body shape, health and expressions that one wears.True beauty comes from within yes, it’s a cliché but the most beautiful of all clichés. If you are a person with a genuine personality, maturity and warmth radiating from within, you are indeed an attractive person regardless of your skin tone.

For reliable beauty tips and advice on skin care routines, consult trusted group of beauty experts on solvemyproblemm.

To quote the late president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam,’I may not be a handsome man, but I can give my hand-to-some man, because beauty is required in the heart, not in the mind’. Eventually that’s all what matters.