Kagimbana says that these products are very dangerous because once one starts using them; stopping leads to more complications, whereas continuing with it puts your overall health in danger.
For one to start having complications, he says, it takes a period of one to two years.
“When one tries to stop using them, the problem persists and they find themselves in the cycle again. However, the best way to handle it is to seek help from a dermatologist,” he says.
“Apart from just health problems, the product is also associated with economic impact as well as stress because of the stigma from community,” he adds.
Kagimbana explains that once one has disturbed the normal skin with these products, there is no flora of the skin, thus exposing it to various skin issues and other diseases.
“The skin is important when it comes to protecting our body, interfering with it leads to many health problems.”
Kagimbana says side effects include big pimples that don’t go away, resulting into scars when pressed, dark spots and patches, sensitivity of the skin to the sun to a point that one can’t be under it for too long.
Hair growth around the mouth area and the chin is also a side effect.
This, he explains, is because bleaching means clearing the skin, and since these products contain harmful ingredients, the skin is already damaged and the cells beneath are damaged as well.
The medic points out that for people using these products, in case of an accident with stitching required, it’s hard and most of the time not possible because the skin is already damaged beyond repair.
“There is also eruption of an itchy rash, and at this point, one should stop using the product to avoid further complications.”
Francoise Gahongayire, a dermatologist at Oshen-King Faisal Hospital, says one can get skin cancer and other effects on the internal organs, such as renal problems.
She explains that in some skin lightening creams, there is a mineral that can go through the skin and affect the urinal system.
She further notes that the active ingredient in some skin lighteners is mercury, so bleaching can lead to mercury poisoning.
“Because mercury is a toxic agent, it can lead to serious psychiatric, neurological, and kidney problems. Also, women using these products while pregnant can pass this product (mercury) to the unborn child,” she says.
She warns that people should stop using these products because they are medicines/drugs and shouldn’t be used without prescription.
Source -Lifeyle
