The FDA has received reports of serious side effects such as rashes, facial swelling, and ochronosis (skin discoloration) resulting from the use of skin lightening products containing hydroquinone. The FDA advises consumers not to use these products because of the potential harm they can cause, including ochronosis, which can be permanent. Consumers should talk to their doctor about treatment options for certain skin conditions, including old or brown spots. People who used hydroquinone-containing products experienced side effects, including rashes, swelling of the face and permanent skin discoloration, the FDA warned. Mercury is highly toxic and can damage the nervous, digestive and immune systems as well as the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes. A landmark 2011 U.S. study found that light-skinned black women receive shorter prison sentences than dark-skinned black women. In 2015, another study found that white interviewers viewed light-skinned black and Hispanic candidates as smarter than dark-skinned interviewees with the same qualifications. Cynthia Sims of Southern Illinois University found a gap in career opportunities between dark-skinned and fair-skinned women in India, while a Seattle University study by Sonora Jha and Mara Adelman found that the chances of a dark-skinned Indian woman going out online were “non-existent.” Studies have consistently shown that in the competitive market for jobs and marriage, lighter skin has benefits. And now, in the digital age, it`s never been easier to access products and expertise to get that advantage.
Pregnant women and women of childbearing potential should avoid exposure to mercury. Unborn babies, infants and children are very sensitive to mercury. Even if pregnant women do not show symptoms of mercury exposure, it can affect their unborn children. Back in the impasse, it is a successful bankruptcy. Trade standards capture between 1,500 and 2,000 products, including some homemade, unlabelled and untested products, eliminating one of the UK`s most prolific online sellers. By the end of the year-long national initiative, 45 dealers had been identified and 23 had received warnings; There have been two convictions and tens of thousands of pounds in fines and compensation for victims. More lawsuits will follow, but cases are still booming around the world. And here? Well, trade standards will probably be busy for some time to come. The recent police killings of black people and the growing Black Lives Matter movement have become turning points for anti-colorism, especially in terms of accountability to big brands, according to Mayer. But anti-coloring activists like Hari say these companies have always known how discriminatory their skin lightening products are and continue to ignore activists` concerns.
It was only because the Western world began to pay more attention and highlight the seriousness of the problem that companies decided to take further action. The way forward is to stop selling such products that undermine the self-confidence of darker-skinned women and damage the skin with ingredients such as steroids, hydroquinone, mercury, and lead. It is good news that Johnson & Johnson has decided to stop selling its popular Neutrogena Fine Fairness and Clean & Clear Fairness ranges in Asia and the Middle East. Celebrities with great influence in India should also stop promoting these products. Skin lightening products are marketed to treat uneven skin tone, acne, age spots, freckles and wrinkles. Companies may describe skin lightening products as whitening, bleaching, evening products, skin lightening or lightening. The products are often sold as creams, lotions, soaps or powders in stores catering to Hispanic/Latino, Asian, African or Middle Eastern communities, the FDA said. Jones recently revived the #UnfairandLovely slogan as part of an internet campaign highlighting the dangers of skin whitening and combating colorism as a concept. The campaign takes into account national and historical nuances – caste system, slavery or colonialism – and takes care to curate content focused on specific communities.
I`m black, my friends were Sri Lankan, so we shared experiences. But people`s experiences with colorism are very different and it`s very difficult to get someone who grew up in India to identify with colorism in Jamaica. It`s like products. The chemicals may be the same, but marketing is the dangerous part. Our campaign started with South Asians because they recognized the brand name. But blacks use trademarks with other names. The FDA warns consumers that there are no over-the-counter skin lightening products approved by the FDA or legally marketed. Some manufacturers and distributors have already withdrawn their over-the-counter skin lightening products from the market, and the FDA plans to take action against those who continue to market these potentially harmful and illegal over-the-counter products. The World Health Organization says more about mercury in skin products.
Not all products that claim to lighten the skin are illegal, but many creams from outside the EU contain chemicals banned by safety regulations. These include mercury and hydroquinone – which have been linked to poisoning, skin damage and liver and kidney dysfunction with prolonged use – and corticosteroids, which are prescription products in the UK. Abuse of corticosteroid creams is associated with thinning of the skin, an increased likelihood of skin cancer and, contrary to intuition, darkening of the skin. These products limit the skin production of melanin, which is responsible for the color of the skin, hair and eyes. But hydroquinone and mercury can build up in the body over time. The FDA takes a comprehensive approach to protecting consumers from the risks posed by skin lightening products containing hydroquinone. The agency informs companies that have registered these drugs with the FDA, but cannot actively distribute them, of the current legal status of these drugs in order to prevent companies from distributing these illegal products. The FDA is also adding some manufacturers of skin lightening products to an import warning to prevent their products from entering the United States. Many of the FDA`s safety concerns regarding the use of hydroquinone in over-the-counter skin lightening drugs also apply to the use of hydroquinone in cosmetic products.
Photos of products where mercury has been found can be found under Mercury-containing skin bleaching products. However, as the world experiences racist accounts in the wake of police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other black people, a number of companies have revealed significant changes to address the long-standing controversy over the sale and marketing of skin lightening products in Asian countries. of Africa and the Middle East. Johnson & Johnson announced this month that it will stop selling certain Neutrogena and Clean & Clear product lines in Asia that have been advertised as dark spot reducers and skin lighteners. Unilever followed suit and announced plans to revise some skin lightening terms and product names, particularly its well-known Fair & Lovely products in India. Similarly, cosmetics giant L`Oréal – whose Garnier range of products has been widely advertised in South Asia to lighten skin – announced over the weekend that it would remove the words “white”, “equity” and “light” from its products. But instead of dealing with how its skin lightening products and those of other conglomerates like Johnson & Johnson and L`Oreal maintain complexion-based colorism and discrimination, Unilever has given us symbolism – and it won`t. Many skin lightening products also contain dangerous chemicals that can lead to serious health risks. Prolonged exposure to hazardous chemicals such as mercury and hydroquinone can lead to skin damage, poisoning, and liver and kidney dysfunction. Skin lightening products containing these chemicals, typically imported from Asia, are banned and illegal in Europe due to safety regulations – but business is booming.
However, in addition to the negative effects on mental well-being, these products often contain dangerous substances that can lead to serious physical discomfort. These products, both legal and illegal, are often loaded with dangerous chemicals such as hydroquinone and mercury. These substances can cause discoloration, damaged skin, kidney damage and birth defects, including neurological damage in early childhood. The products also contain highly effective steroids. On YouTube, lightening videos regularly garner several million views, the most popular being those of vloggers who focus on using products containing natural or natural ingredients, made at home or created by pharmaceutical companies. “I would never recommend harsh whitening products,” says Jyoti Singh, aka SuperPrincessJo, an Indian beauty blogger based in Singapore whose brightening clips regularly attract millions of views. “People may have a desperate need to whiten faster, so recommendations can cause side effects if used excessively or incorrectly. Therefore, I only share natural remedies that are safer.
“Unsubtle marketing communications for skin lightening products, including variants such as BB creams, special “anti-marking treatment” creams, facial cleansers, shower gels, and chemical bleach, have made the situation worse.