The Dark Side of Skin Lightening

The Dark Side of Skin Lightening
More people are using skin-lightening products, even if it means risking their health. Transcript of radio broadcast:
04 March 2008
This is the VOA Special English Health Report.

In many societies, there is often greater acceptance of light skin than dark skin. Light skin may be seen as a mark of beauty, intelligence and success. These beliefs can lead to social pressures even within the same racial or ethnic group, if some members are darker skinned than others.

The result is that skin lightening has become a common activity across Africa, Asia and other areas of the world. More and more people with dark skin are using skin-lightening products, even if it means they may face health risks.

They believe that having whiter skin will improve their lives. Many people think they will have a better chance of getting a job or marrying into a better family. Or they want to look like what their society generally considers beautiful.

Some beauty care products and soaps contain chemicals that make skin lighter. This process is also called bleaching. But some of the chemicals are extremely dangerous. One of the most dangerous is hydroquinone.

Hydroquinone has been banned in several countries. This chemical has been linked to kidney damage and some kinds of cancer. It also causes low birth weight in babies when mothers use it during pregnancy.

At first, bleaching products make the skin color lighter. But after long-term use they can cause problems. They could even make some skin darker.

The chemicals in the products block and break down the natural process that gives color to skin. The skin loses its natural barrier to protect against sunlight. Then the skin can become thick and discolored. Usually the person will use more of the product in an effort to correct the problem, but this only makes it worse.

Fatimata Ly treats skin conditions in the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Doctor Ly says skin bleaching has become a problem throughout Senegal. She says the chemicals are now more dangerous because they are stronger. Some cases have resulted in blackened fingernails, infections and permanent skin damage.

And these are not the only risks. Experts say some people who change their skin color suffer emotional damage. They feel regret and sadness. They feel that instead of risking their health, they should have learned to love and accept their skin color as it was.

And that's the VOA Special English Health Report, written by Lawan Davis. Transcripts, MP3s and podcasts of our reports are at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.




----------------------------Google Translate

阴暗面美白
多的人用皮肤避雷产品，即使这意味着牺牲健康。全文电台广播：
2008年3月4日
这是美国之音特别英语卫生报告。

在许多社会中，经常存在着更多人接受的浅色皮肤比深色皮肤。浅色皮肤，可被视为一种标志，美丽，智慧和成功。这些信念会导致社会的压力，即使在同一种族或人种的，如果有些议员是阴暗的皮肤比别人。

结果是，美白已成为一种普遍的活动遍布非洲，亚洲和世界其他地区。越来越多的人，皮肤黝黑的皮肤使用护肤避雷产品，即使这意味着他们可能面临的健康风险。

他们相信，有白皮肤，将改善他们的生活。很多人都认为他们将有更好的机会找到工作，或嫁一个好家庭。或者，他们想看看喜欢什么，社会普遍认为美丽。

一些美容护理产品和香皂含有化学物质，使皮肤打火机。这个过程也被称为漂白。但是，部分化学品，是极其危险的。其中最危险的是对苯二酚。

对苯二酚已被禁止在几个国家。这个化学一直与肾脏损害和某些类型的癌症。这也造成低出生体重婴儿的时候，母亲用它在怀孕期间。

起初，漂白产品，使皮肤颜色较浅。但经过长期使用，他们可以造成很多问题。他们甚至有可能使一些皮肤黝黑。

这些化学品在产品座下降，并打破自然的过程，使色皮肤。皮肤失去其天然屏障，以防止阳光。然后皮肤可以成为厚和变色。一般人会更多地使用该产品，在努力纠正问题，但是这只能使情况变得更糟。

fatimata地对待皮肤状况，在塞内加尔首都达喀尔举行。医生地说，皮肤漂白的问题已成为整个塞内加尔。她说，化学品，现在已较危险的，因为他们是坚强。有些情况下，导致发黑的指甲，感染和皮肤永久的损害。

这是不是唯一的风险。专家们说，一些人改变他们的肤色遭受情绪上的损害。他们感到遗憾和悲伤。他们觉得，而不是去冒险，他们的健康，他们应该学会爱，并接受他们的皮肤颜色，因为它是。

这也是该美国之音特别英语卫生报告，写lawan戴维斯。誊本， MP3和播客我们的报告是在voaspecialenglish.com 。我史蒂夫Ember公司。