The Dangers of Skin Whitening

Following the recent ban of hydroquinone in many countries, there has been a wide debate regarding the safety of skin whitening products and their respective ingredients.
So, what’s safe and what’s not in the world of skin whitening?
The following are the findings from a report conducted on behalf of SW+SS Skin Whitening by Dr Jonathan Lindenberg, skincare adviser.

-Hydroquinone. Although Hydroquinone is a very strong inhibitor of melanin production, it has been banned from various countries due to the link found with cancer. It is considered to be an irritant above 4% concentration and can be an unstable ingredient in formulations of cosmetic products.

-Mercury. Highly Toxic. Both an acute and chronic poison. Its carcinogenicity has been well documented.

-Arbutin. It contains the chemical glucosylated hydroquinone. It can be extracted from various types of berries and pears. No studies have been made regarding its toxicity, but there are fears that it can have the same links with cancer found in Hydroquinone.

-Tretinoin. It is a derivative of Vitamin A. It has various uses in dermatology, including skin whitening. It can cause thinning and dryness of the skin. Sensitive skin types can also experience redness, scaling, itching and burning.

-Kojic acid. A byproduct of the fermentation process for making the Japanese alcoholic drink sake. Recent studies in mice have shown that there is evidence on the carcinogenicity of kojic acid, but its yet unproven if the same applies on humans.

-Azelaic acid. Originally used to skin acne, has been found to have skin whitening properties. It can be a skin and eye irritant, but it’s believed that there is no risk to health associated with this ingredient.

-Vitamin C. Various formulations, like L Glutathione, have been found to have positive effects in reducing melanin production in concentrations higher than 5%. Studies have shown that it’s one of the safest whitening products in the market.

-Alpha Hydroxic Acids, like lactic acid and glycolic acid are safe to use under 10% concentration. Concentrations higher than 10% are only to be used by dermatologists and trained cosmetologists.

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How to Get Younger Looking Skin

Anti aging skin care products should give you younger looking skin. Choosing an anti aging skin cream that works isn't easy. But let me show you what your skin care program should contain. Here we will consider 5 possible treatments for your antiaging skin care program.

1. Whitening
2. Restorative Antiaging Skin Cream
3. Eye Contour Gel
4. Hydrating Mask
5. Cleansing Mask

Do you really need all 5 of the above? Let's find out.

Whitening

You may not need whitening if your natural skin tone is just right for you. The reason we include it as potentially part of your anti aging skin care program is because some people with fair skin develop dark spots or age spot as they are sometimes called. Also skin could have uneven tones.

Always choose the type of anti aging skin cream that has no abrasives or harsh chemicals. The best choice that I found contained a natural herbal extract found in Europe that would inhibit melanin production and reduce irritation that sometimes happens when skin becomes thinner.

Restorative Antiaging Skin Cream

Virtually everyone needs a restorative anti aging skin cream at bedtime. When you are fast asleep your body repairs all of your cells (including skin cells) that during the day were damaged.

Find a skin cream that has no colors, fragrances or alcohol. You want no damaging chemicals on your skin. But you do want a anti aging skin care cream that supports the collagen, elastin and skin cell production.

Eye Contour Gel

For the best anti aging skin care program, an eye contour gel is highly recommended. A dead give away when guessing someone's age is things like crows feet, bags and tiny lines. Eyes are often caused to be irritated and itch because some gels have alcohol. The best antiaging skin cream for the area around the eyes is one that contains the latest European ingredients.

As you become a little older, your skin becomes more sensitive to scrubbing. Exfoliating can actually remove healthy skin.

Hydrating Mask

Your daily moisturizers work better and more efficiently with the help of an antiaging skin care hydrating mask. Your entire body needs to be hydrated. In most any moisturizer or antiaging skin cream the primary ingredient is purified water, which is fine, but research has revealed new substances that allow you to “retain” that water, so your skin stays moister, longer. The result is softer and healthier looking.

Antiaging Cleansing Mask

To remove dead skin cells and prevent black heads, acne and pimples a deep cleansing mask will do the job. Acne can come at almost any age, especially if your health and skin care program is not up to par. Be sure to choose a product that contains no chemicals or harsh ingredients.

The best choice for an antiaging skin cream mask is New Zealand mineral clay. It revitalizes and soothes. The result is softer and smoother. You probably will have a hard time finding it in a reliable product. I finally did after a lot of searching. But I can assure you that once I did, it was worth it by the great results I get.

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Skin problems for Dry Skin

The number of people with skin problems has been increasing in recent years. Moreover, there is a notable increase in people who admit to having sensitive and dry skin. There is a bit of difficulty finding a scientific definition for "sensitive skin" as there are many differing, measurable criteria for its definition. However, normal skin can develop a higher sensitivity when exposed to the following stimuli : sunburn; heavy skin-peeling; occupationally-related above normal exposure to water, alkalis and solvents, internal illnesses such as the increased skin dryness seen in age-related diabetes or the general itching that can accompany kidney diseases and psychological factors like stress.

Dry skin is especially common in children under 10 and older people over 60. Between 10 to 50 years of age, the number of women with dry skin is markedly more than in the case of men. The common characteristic of dry skin are light scaling, tightness and sometimes, itching. Basically, there are two types of dry skin - normal dry skin and extreme dry skin. In both types, the cause is essentially a deficit of natural moisturizing factors. A rarer form is atopic dry skin, in which a disturbed fatty acid metabolism of the skin contribute a major role.

Cleaning and Care of Dry Skin

To restore your dry skin to its normal physiological condition, pay extra close attention to your cleansing and skincare routine. In choosing cleansing products for dry skin, here are few pointers to bear in mind :

* Make sure the cleansing preparations are made up of mild cleansing complexes with re-oiling agents that remove fat-soluble (lipophilic) dirt particles.
* The cleansing substances' supply of lipids should promote and ensure an intensive replenishing of skin oils.
* The fatty-acid constituents of the re-oiling agents should also be similar to the skin's natural oils to blend especially well into the horny skin layer, thereby restoring the protective lipid film during washing and helping to maintain your skin's natural pH balance.

Choosing Skin Care Products

It is important to choose skincare products that contain various active ingredients that reinforce the skin's own protective functions. Here are pointers and ingredients to watch our for :

* For example, skincare products that contain the antioxidant Vitamin E are effective in preventing, or at the very least, delaying skin aging. Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that hinders the oxidation of poly-unsaturated fatty acids, thus helping to firm up the cell membrane and delay cell-aging.
* Choose skincare products that protect the skin from damaging environmental influences such as dryness and colds. Where the skin condition has been disturbed, choose skincare products that contain moisturizing agents and substance that will help normalize the skin, heal it and prevent diseases. For example, as a Vitamin B derivative, Dexpanthenol is said to enhance wound healing and cell-formation. Vitamin C in citric acid form is also a popular skincare substance that is used mainly because it helps in wound-healing and cell regenerations.
* Those with especially sensitive-skin or skin affected by neurodermatitis should choose skincare products suitable for deodorant-intolerant skin.
* The skincare products' efficacy should have been objectively and comprehensively evaluated and the confirmed in clinical studies.

Healthy skin, for the most part, results from a balance of moisture and oils and the physiological pH-value (acid mantle of the skin around 4.5 - 5.75) of the skin's surface. Always remember to choose cleansing and skincare products that are quickly absorbed into the skin and activate the various regenerating metabolic processes of the skin cells.

Causes of Dry Skin :

* Biological skin ageing
* Chemical and medicinal influences
* Climate and environment
* Genetic disposition
* Hormonal influences
* Illness
* Light-induced skin ageing
* Nutrition

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