Bleaching destroyed my skin
Carlene, 35, from Kingston, Jamaica, has been “bleaching” her skin for three years. She uses skin lightening creams which are popular with many Afro-Caribbean, African and Asian people, despite repeated health warnings. Some of the products contain toxic chemicals, such as hydroquinone, which may cause skin irritation, bleaching, or even infection, when applied in excessive quantities.
“After three years bleaching, I have stopped. The reason is that it gave me stretch marks on my hands and on some parts of my body – like my sides. I didn’t really want to destroy my skin. What is really harsh in the bleaching cream is the hydroquinone.”
“Sometimes I lie down at night and wish I could wake up in the morning and just look like I did before this process started. My advice to people who are thinking of starting, is that you can use something mild. Even though I’ve stopped bleaching, I still use something mild, to maintain my skin tone. Because if I stop now, I’m going to look like I’m poison. That’s the effect it has on you.”
Extracts from a BBC article, published 12 June 2009 (original)
Can you tell me which ones you were using because it happened to me i was using different types for 10 yrs and recently after having my baby i noticed very thick reddish stretch marks along my inner arms and breast also my stomach.I know how you feel i wish i can go back to how i looked before my baby. Also I just wanted to know what are you using now that’s helping if you don’t mind.