Skin bleaching is a very common treatment undergone by men and women alike as it gives the skin an instant glow, lightens blemishes and also fades the appearance of small hair in the facial area. Gradually in the last few years, face bleaching has assumed a major role in the skin care routine as everyone loves to flaunt fair and clear skin tone while getting rid of dark patches and tanning. Bleaching is a cosmetic procedure that are done in parlours and even at home.

While there are various readymade chemical based bleaching products that are easily available in the markets, many people across the globe even make use of natural ingredients that gives the skin the same bleaching effect without causing harm to the skin. Lemon and potato is most commonly used as skin bleaching agents and they are rubbed over the facial skin to get the natural glow and to reduce blemishes or pigmentation in the skin.

But synthetic blemishes are widely used which are made from chlorine or oxygen that are used as base. Chemical based bleaches can give instant results by uplifting the skin tone but can have various side effects too. To know more about this cosmetic skin bleaching process, here are some advantages and disadvantages of face bleaching:-

Advantages of Face Bleaching

1. Illuminating Glow

The reason why celebrities across the globe boast the enviously fabulous skin is that they regularly bleach their skin to make it smooth, shiny and glowing. Since bleaching improves the skin tone, the facial skin looks fresh, rejuvenated and gets a youthful shine. Regular bleaching can remove dullness from the skin and render it a natural glow that lasts long.

2. Fair & Clear Skin

One of the main purposes of face bleaching is lightening the skin tone to make it look flawlessly bright. Face bleaching helps in lowering the melanin content in the skin and makes the skin look one shade lighter. Bleaching the facial skin can significantly reduce the effects of tanning and regular bleaching can help in reducing the dirt and dark outer layer in face.

3. Blemish Reduction

Dark spots, blemishes and pigmentation marks remain as stubborn marks on skin. They make the face look dull, tired and aged. Using bleach on regular basis can substantially reduce the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation. While bleaching reduces melanin level on the facial skin and deeply removes dirt layer, the dark spots start to lighten with frequent bleaching. This is why, many cosmetics manufacturers add bleaching agents in their moisturisers and face washes to make the skin appear clearer and cleaner.

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4. Long Lasting Effect

As compared to several cosmetic procedures, face bleaching is an easy treatment that offers long lasting benefits. Chemical peeling and laser treatments are other popular and highly expensive options. But bleaching is a process that can be performed on skin even at home and is very economical and provides the skin with smooth, supple and improved texture for a long time.

5. Smooth & Improved Texture

When skin is bleached on frequent basis, the skin becomes brighter, glowing and clearer and hence, this revitalisation makes skin’s texture smoother. The skin becomes softer and smoother and the texture of the skin gradually improves. Bleaching efficiently removes dead cells, white heads and black heads, thus breathing a new life into the otherwise dull and tired skin.

Disadvantages of Face Bleaching

1. Adverse Impact on Damaged Skin

As per a study that was published in the British Journal of Dermatology, it had been observed that use of skin bleaching products by people who suffered from skin issues like eczema, acne and dermatitis can worsen the condition of their skin.

2. Sun Sensitivity

It has also been studied that use of skin bleaching products, especially the ones containing hydroquinone, can make the skin highly sensitive to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Therefore, various dermatological studies recommend using a good sunscreen cream when using skin bleaching creams to avoid skin damage when exposed to sun.  

3. Skin Allergy

Use of skin bleaching creams always comes with mild to severe risks of allergic reactions such as allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. Medical studies have revealed that irritant contact dermatitis is indicated when there is skin reddening, mild itching and stinging sensation. However, the symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis are severe and include skin crusting, swelling, quite unusual discolouration of skin, severe itching and burning sensation on the bleached facial area.

4. Uneven Skin Tone

One of the major disadvantages of using face bleaching creams is that they come with the risk of giving the skin with uneven colouring. In fact, some chemical ridden bleaching products can worsen the dark spots and pigmentation marks and also make the skin look a shade darker.

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5. Impaired Skin Healing

One of the lesser known disadvantages of using facial bleach creams is that their application can impair the ability of the skin to heal from rash, injury or lesion. Some studies conducted at various parts of the world proved that application of facial bleaching creams can reduce or completely impair the skin’s wound healing ability.

6. Chemical Reaction

Most bleaching or skin lightening products comes with hydrogen peroxide and benzoyl peroxide, which can cause severe chemical reaction in the skin. While its use can make the skin appear dark and stained, a product containing both these chemicals can have more hazardous impact on the skin.

The crux of understanding the advantages and disadvantages of face bleaching is that skin bleaching creams containing harmful chemicals can be detrimental to the skin’s health and hence, one must opt for bleaching products made with natural ingredients and take necessary precautions to keep skin glowing, youthful and healthy.