Since I was young, my parents taught me
everything I know today about skin care without realizing. I was born in a
household where you use regular products that you are aware of its ingredients
and that are not harmful for your skin or your health. My parents taught me
life lessons by either reason or experience, they will inform you that the fire
is hot and if you touch it you will get burnt (reason) but if you still insist
they will allow you touch the fire so will you learn to never touch it again
(experience). With that being said I am a proud 21 year old dark skinned lady,
in my younger years I had my insecurities about my skin but I was blessed with
fantastic parents whom never failed to acknowledge how smooth, shiny and
special my skin was, I don’t know if they were trying to avoid me from skin
bleaching or they were just being the good parents they are but either way it
worked, I never skin bleached; my mind was set on that my skin tone is
beautiful the way it was because my parents don’t lie. I learned about skin bleaching very early
because it was like a disease, everyone was using skin bleaching products to
lighten their skin, they were so hypnotized by the idea of “lighter skin” that
they didn’t even pay attention to the side effects that everyone could see
but them.
Skin
Bleaching is basically where people use chemical products to lighten their skin
for whatever reasons they may have. Let me make it clear that I am not shedding
light on this obvious issue to judge but I am pointing it out to educate. Since
I came back to Juba skin bleachers have certainly developed in number, even
worse the side effects of ugly scars and skin damage are all over people’s
faces and bodies. Although some skin bleaching products are very good for
getting rid of dark spots or skin discoloration, other products are rather very
harmful and have the potential of causing skin cancer. With that being said it
is important that you educate yourself about that product you are purchasing
before using, better yet consult a specialist. Some of these harmful side
effects I have mentioned in addition to Skin Cancer and scars are: Acne,
swelling of the skin, thinning of the skin, Cataracts, setting down of fat in
the face, chest or stomach, increase in appetite and weight gain, Osteoporosis, neurological and kidney damage due
to high level of mercury used in the creams, Psychiatric disorders, and severe
birth defects. And that is only according to my knowledge, I am sure according
to specialists and others with experience there are more side effects caused by
skin bleaching.
Why do people usually
skin bleach? It is believed that people with lighter skin represent beauty, and
get better opportunities with jobs and a better life. Youngsters today skin
bleach believing they will be in better company or finally fit in with the cool
groups, women believe they will get better men and of course skin bleaching
commercials are not helping in changing that mindset, neither is the absence of
parents from their children’s lives where the children miss out on the two
people that supposedly love them the most telling them they are beautiful just
the way they are.
In my opinion you will
get a good job because you are educated, a better job because you are
hardworking, creative and intelligent. You should want to be in the company of
those who inspire, encourage and push you to achieve your dreams and goals in
life not want to be in the “cool” circle that needs you to be a certain skin tone
to qualify/fit in (that is just sad). And finally you will get a man my dear
sister because you know the kind of man you want, that man who respects and
values you, that man who you will hold your head up high telling your father “I
want to marry this man”, that man whose ethics and manners you want to see in
your future son, that man who wants to change your last name not your skin
tone.
I have mentioned before
that my knowledge and life lessons which half of I learned from my parents
through reason or experience, I have given you reason to avoid bleaching (Side
effects and My opinion) and I believe when you walk around the streets of Juba
and see the many skins that were damaged by skin bleaching products I believe I
have given you the experience of another to avoid your own.
