Question: ARE SKIN LIGHTENING LOTIONS HARMFUL

Makobu Kimani answered on 24 May 2018:

It depends on what are the ingredients in skin lightening lotions. Some of those lotions may contain very high levels of chemicals like steroids or even Mercury. (Yes the very same one in the thermometer).
Prolonged exposure to such chemicals can result in:
– skin turning dark or too light.
– thinning of the skin.
– visible blood vessels in the skin.
– scarring.
– kidney, liver or nerve damage.
– abnormalities in a newborn baby (if used during pregnancy)
There is currently a movement on social media to encourage people to accept their skin tone as normal. It is called ‘dripping Melanin’. Some of the bigger names in showbiz today are also accepting their skin tone. They include even our very own Lupita Nyongo.