Sunspots or liver spots, an over-abundance of freckles, uneven splotches in your skin — these can be eyesores, especially when they appear on your face. If you are suffering from these cosmetic problems, then something that can make your complexion look more even could be your best friend. The right skin whitening cream can do this and more. You just need to find one that works.
Hydroquinone: An Effective Skin Whitener, Hands Down
Read the product label of many of today’s skin lighteners and chances are you’ll find hydroquinone as an ingredient. This is an aromatic compound that inhibits the formation of melanin, a pigment that darkens skin. It accomplishes this by regulating the activity of tyrosinase, which is the enzyme needed to produce melanin.
There’s no doubt that hydroquinone does what it’s supposed to do — and that is to make the skin lighter.
But there can be significant side effects.
For one thing, it has been known to cause a painful burning sensation, skin discolorations, itching, and swelling or crusting of the skin area to which it has been applied. Moreover, it is a factor in a condition called ochronosis, where thick black speckles appear in the skin.
More troubling is how hydroquinone has been linked to cancer. Its potential carcinogenic effects is one of the reasons why it has been banned for use in cosmetics in various countries: South Africa, Switzerland, Australia, England, European Union nations, etc. Remember that skin whitening creams are meant to be applied regularly over time. In this manner, your skin absorbs potentially toxic substances like hydroquinone, and it can wreak havoc on your health since you keep applying it.
Is there an alternative skin lightening agent that whitens skin without having any negative effects on your health? The answer is yes. It is derived from the root of the nutgrass plant that grows in the wild in India, and its skin whitening properties were discovered quite by accident.
Extrapone Nutgrass: The Natural, Safe Skin Whitener
It can probably be classified as grass, but not the one that brings you a high. What it does is bring you fairer skin, as was discovered by a German company that was initially developing it as a skin anti-irritant.
What they found was that nutgrass had the ability to make skin fairer by reducing the skin’s production of melanin by up to forty percent. Even better, they discovered that nutgrass was able to achieve this without any negative effects on one’s skin and overall health! This is why nutgrass is one of the major components of an effective yet hypoallergenic skin whitening cream made in New Zealand.
A skin whitener should do more than just lighten skin. It should also contribute to sustaining healthy skin, making it look and feel smoother and younger. Learn about what your skin needs to maintain its vibrancy and youthfulness. That way, you’ll be making wiser and more informed choices the next time you shop for skin-friendly skin care products.