Bleach Has Harmful Effects On Your Body
The more you use chlorine bleach, the more you endanger yourself and your family with its harmful ramifications on the body. To start off, inhaling bleach causes damage to your lungs and organs. After accidentally inhaling the fumes, some individuals have reported feeling stinging in their nose and eyes, coughing, and lightheadedness, all of which are symptoms that indicate the corrosive properties of the substance.
Additionally, chlorine-based bleach can damage your skin and eyes. If left on skin, bleach can cause irritation and burning. Over very long periods of time, the chemicals presence on skin can lighten skin pigment and permanently damage tissue.
If bleach gets in your eye, it can have serious consequences. Your eye will become incredibly irritated and painful, and can suffer permanent tissue and vision damage if not completely rinsed out. Industrial bleach, which tends to be more diluted, can have these same impacts in much shorter periods of time.
Alternatives To Bleach Can Be Just As Effective
Fortunately, many alternative cleaning products are free of bleach and can clean your home just as effectively.
For example, rubbing alcohol can be very effective for cleaning the plastic surfaces of electronics. Hydrogen peroxide is a nontoxic substance that can be used to disinfect household surfaces. Unlike bleach, hydrogen peroxide is safe to use around food products. Baking soda and white vinegar, which are non-toxic and non-corrosive, have been utilized to freshen fabrics, eliminate grease, and clean glass for years.
Lastly, soap and warm water will clean just about anything in your home and do not present any risks to your health. Scrubbing with antibacterial soap will kill bacteria just like harsher chemicals.
Using bleach to clean your home puts you, your children, and your pets at risk. Make sure you understand the danger of bleach-based products before deciding to use them in your home. You may find that using an alternative can clean your home just as well without the hazard.
Filed Under: Cleaning & Organizing, How To, Lifestyle, ListsTagged With: bleach, cleaning, home, tips
About Our Team
An avid jogger with a knack for solving crosswords, Karen is a culinary chef taking a break from the long hours of her catering business to raise her two boys. Aside from baking the best double-chocolate brownies you’ve ever tasted, she currently spends her free time writing about the joys of cooking and reviewing a variety of appliances you may find in the kitchen.
The Worldwide Epidemic Of Skin Bleaching
“Skin bleaching is just as prevalent in America as it is everywhere else. In the United States, we hide under political correctness, so people aren’t going to be as open about it. We don’t have billboards here because the FDA has some level of enforcement of what can be advertised.
“For example, in Ghana, there’s the Food and Drugs Board. On paper, it says skin-bleaching products are banned and we shouldn’t be advertising these products. But if you walk right outside the Food and Drugs Board, you can find the products and you can see a billboard advertising skin bleaching. In the news a few years ago, people were applauding Ghana for banning skin bleaching, but that’s such bullshit. Primarily because in the last 20 years, they’ve had these bans “on the books,” but no one has enforced them.
“But if you open up a U.S. magazine where the audience is primarily Black women, you’re going to see ads of products that are made to “even out skin tones.” If you go to a beauty supply store right now, there are entire aisles dedicated to skin-bleaching products that I can find in Ghana and in Brooklyn. The fact that the shelves remain stocked lets us know that the product is as active as it is there. The difference is that people aren’t as forthcoming in talking about it here because we have all this judgment. We have all these articles that portray a level of shock factor in regard to skin bleaching, so why would anyone here admit to doing it?
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The Mistake Made When Talking About Skin Bleaching
“I wrote a piece for Ebony a few years ago calling us all out on the conversations we’re having about skin bleaching. Like, if you want to talk about skin bleaching, let’s talk about Black people who choose to live in all-white neighborhoods or send their kids to predominately white schools because we have internalized the idea that is better for our childrenthat’s white supremacy. We have to understand how white supremacy functions before we begin to somehow investigate and understand skin bleaching. There are so many things that are like skin bleaching, and it just looks different.”
When Skin Bleaching Goes Wrong
Long-term use of skin-bleaching products can cause visible skin damage and scarring, and less visible but serious internal effects. A true story of liver failure and permanent health problems highlights the risks.
Skin bleaching is not illegal in the UK, and when used professionally and within EU and UK regulations, it isnt harmful. However, excessive skin bleaching and high levels of particular ingredients in products sold illegally are dangerous.
Before I looked into the effects of extreme skin bleaching, I wanted to know exactly how skin-bleaching cream is categorised is it cosmetic or medical?
Skin-lightening agents in cosmetics are often used to produce an even skin tone, usually to the face and neck, but sometimes more extensively over larger areas of skin, or even the whole body. These products are marketed as either cosmetic, to improve the appearance of your skin, or as a treatment for particular skin conditions like hyperpigmentation.
The distinction between a cosmetic and a medicine is important from a regulatory and health and safety perspective because, among other things, a cosmetic should not contain active pharmaceutical ingredients, otherwise it is classified as a drug, according to EU rules. Many skin-bleaching products sold on the high street are mislabelled as cosmetics, when in fact they are drugs.
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Bleach Interacts With Other Household Chemicals
Not only is bleach harmful on its own, but its interactions with other commonly used chemicals can produce harmful reactions.
When bleach comes in contact with ammonia, it can react to form chlorine gas, which causes cellular damage in the nasal passageways and lungs. The accidental mixture of these two products in homes has resulted in death. Chlorine gas can also form when bleach reacts with acids, such as vinegar.
Furthermore, the reaction of chlorine bleach and ammonia can create dangerous and toxic fumes. The hazards of bleach byproducts contribute even further to the perils of using this chemical in your home.
A variety of household products, including window cleaners, dishwasher detergents, and drain cleaners can react negatively. When using bleach to clean your home, you have the added worry of an accidental reaction between cleaning products that can endanger your entire household. The potential for dangerous reactions with other chemicals is just another reason to keep cleaning supplies with bleach out of your home.
Bleach Puts The Environment At Risk
Bleach can have harmful effects on a much larger scale than just your home. Chlorine-based bleach is often used in industrial processes and released into the environment in massive quantities. The impacts of this pollution have spurred many to argue for the restriction of bleach as an effort to protect health and the environment.
Often, manufacturers release bleach-containing waste into bodies of water. Once in the water, bleach reacts with other chemicals to form, among other products, dioxins. Dioxins are known to be highly dangerous toxins that can have serious impacts on health. Bleach also puts wildlife at risk its byproducts have been linked to cancer in studies on laboratory animals. Environmental toxins created by bleach have lowered the populations of several species of birds and fish.
Bleach is especially damaging to the environment because it lingers for many years. Even small amounts of the toxic chemical can accumulate in air and water over time, which can eventually result in adverse health effects.
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What Do Studies Show
Researchers use 2 main types of studies to try to figure out if a substance causes cancer. A substance that causes cancer or helps cancer grow is called a carcinogen.
In studies done in the lab, animals are exposed to a substance to see if it causes tumors or other health problems. Researchers may also expose normal cells in a lab dish to the substance to see if it causes the types of changes that are seen in cancer cells. In lab studies, researchers can control many of the other factors that might affect the results. Still, its not always clear if the results in lab dishes or animals would be the same in humans, for a number of reasons.
Another type of study looks at cancer rates in different groups of people. Such a study might compare the cancer rate in a group exposed to a substance to the rate in a group not exposed to it, or compare it to what the expected cancer rate would be in the general population. But sometimes it can be hard to know what the results of these studies mean, because it is hard to account for the many other factors that might affect the results .
In most cases neither type of study provides enough evidence on its own, so researchers usually look at both human and lab-based studies when trying to figure out if something might cause cancer.
Studies done in the lab
Its not clear how these results might relate to peoples use of hair dyes.
Studies in people
- People who use hair dyes regularly
- People who are exposed to them at work
Skin Bleaching: Why You Should Stop It
Skin bleaching is a thing of choice. It is a cosmetics procedure that aims to lighten dark skin, improve the appearance of blemishes such as birthmarks and dark patches. It is used to improve ones appearance. Skin whitening is also known as skin lightening and skin bleaching.
It is a practice where chemical substances where mixed in an attempt to lighten the skin or provide an even colour by reducing the melanin concentration of the skin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its colour and helps protect it from the sun.
In African countries, 25-80 per cent of women regularly use skin whitening products. Also, In Asia, the number is around 40 per cent. And in India, most of their skincare products are whitening creams.
There are two main ways of Bleaching the Skin.
Skin Lightening Creams
Skin lightening Creams are available with or without a doctors prescription. They are said to contain one or both of the following: hydroquinone, or mercury. This Skin lightening method can result in complications and side effects for people with black skin tones.
Laser Treatment
Laser skin treatment is to lighten blemish or dark patches of the skin. It works by either removing the outer layer of the skin or damaging the cells that produce melanin. It works for people, and it may just be a temporary skin lightening procedure.
Cosmetics procedures can sometimes go wrong, and the result may be disappointing.
Skin Cancer
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Skin Whitening Creams Can Cause Long
19:01 EST, 4 August 2013 | Updated:
Fairness creams are a thriving market in India, especially among women aged between 20 and 30
Fairness creams have long been accused of being discriminatory and racist, but what is a lesser known fact about the million dollar industry is that they can land you with far more serious problems.
Most creams sold in the market are a dangerous cocktail of compounds like steroids, hydroquinone, and tretinoin the long term use of which can lead to lethal health concerns likes permanent pigmentation, skin cancer, liver damage, mercury poisoning and others.
India has a thriving fairness industry and fairness creams are reportedly the most popular in the unfettered skin care market.
Yet, the formulations of these blitz products are shrouded in mystery and awareness of their hazardous effects is low.
While the stigma and the stereotypes they promote is a matter of concern, they are guilty of causing irreparable damage to the skin.
“There are plenty of cases of side effects especially among women in the age group of 20-30.
“Incidence of side effects among 14-15 year-olds is worrying too. About 30 per cent of long term users report adverse effects,” said Dr Nitin Walia, consultant dermatology, Max Healthcare.
Skin lightening creams contain mainly two chemicals, hydroquinone or mercury.
“Many long term users of fairness creams report with a difficult-to-treat condition called refractory pigmentation.
Risks Of Skin Lighteners
One of the most significant risks of using some skin lighteners is the potential exposure to mercury. One study found that nearly 1 out of every 4 skin lighteners made in Asia and sold outside the U.S. contained mercury.
There are other potential risks of skin lighteners. Those risks can include the following:
- Prolonged use can contribute to premature aging of skin.
- Long-term use may increase the risk of skin cancer from sun exposure. Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen when using a skin lightener and going outside.
- Steroids in some skin lighteners may increase risk for skin infections, skin thinning, acne, and poor wound healing.
- Applying steroids to large areas of skin may put you at risk for health problems related to steroid being absorbed by the body.
- Hydroquinone may cause unwanted and untreatable skin discoloration .
- Various bleaching agents, including natural ingredients, can cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.
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Heres Why These Three Skin Whiteners Are Dangerous And Damaging To Your Body
Three skin whitening creams have been banned by the health authorities here for containing the harmful ingredient – Hydroquinone.
According to Gulf News, the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE had previously issued advice about unregistering whitening creams sold online, and had explained that while hydroquinone is an active ingredient in therapeutic creams, very long-term use of these type of creams could lead to skin cancer.
A topical agent for reducing skin pigmentation, hydroquinone, according to different studies, may act as a carcinogen in rodents. Reportedly, the chemical has already been banned in Japan, the European Union, and Australia.
Several countries have banned hydroquinone. It is typically used to lighten areas of skin affected by hyperpigmentation disorders, as well as for freckles and age spots.
Rodent studies involving very high doses of hydroquinone administered by feeding tube showed the potential to cause cancer, according to the FDA report on hydroquinone skin bleaching products. No carcinogenic properties have been associated with topical or oral hydroquinone use in humans.
Whitening Creams And Why They Are A Very Bad Idea
In some parts of the world, in particular, India, Japan, Korea, and China, lightening creams are seen as a normal part of the beauty regime for women and the creams are also being used by black and brown-skinned people the world over, becoming more popular by the day.
While the philosophical questions regarding the practice of using skin lightening creams can be saved for another day, today we would like to point out some of the dangers involved with the use of these harsh creams and products.
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The Shocking Cancer Effects Of Skin Bleaching
Jan 26, 2016, 10:57 AM | Article By: DR AZADEH
Theblack skin colour is healthy and very beautiful do not bleach it ugly to skin cancer
IvoryCoast banned lightening creams by law why not in the GAMBIA
Theshocking number of women in The Gambia now is bleaching their skin. Why do theywant does that? Is fairer skin really more appealing than beautiful black skin?
Skinwhitening, skin lightening, and skin bleaching refer to the practice of usingchemical substances in an attempt to lighten skin tone or provide an even skincomplexion by reducing the melanin concentration in the skin. Several chemicalshave been shown to be effective in skin whitening, while some have proven to betoxic or have questionable safety profiles, adding to the controversysurrounding their use and impacts on certain ethnic groups.
Peoplehave been known to use lightening creams to bleach/lighten their skincomplexions for years.
Celebritiesand everyday folks alike have resorted to these measures without knowing thelong term effects of these creams. In late April, Ivory Coast banned lighteningcreams because of the negative healtheffects associated with them ranging from something as light as acne todevastating repercussions such as cancer.
Lighteningcreams reduce the amount of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment thatgives human skin, hair, and eyes their colour. Dark-skinned people have moremelanin in their skin compared to light/fair-skinned people.
HarmfulEffects of skin Bleaching
What Determines Skin Color
Skin color is determined by the amount of melanin in the skin. Melanin is a pigment produced by specialized cells called melanocytes. People with dark skin have more melanin.
How much melanin your skin has is mainly a matter of your genetic makeup. Sunlight exposure, hormones, skin damage, and exposure to certain chemicals can also affect melanin production.
Changes in skin color will often resolve themselves. For instance, tans fade when the amount of direct exposure to sunlight is reduced. But over time, certain discolorations, such as “age” spots or “liver” spots, become more or less permanent.
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Renal Damage: A Severe Skin Bleaching Side Effect
This is more like having damages to your kidneys caused by the mercury metal chemical contained in skin bleaching products.
The more you use skin bleaching products, the more you expose your body to the absorption of mercury.
Everything can keep going on well until the body maxes out on the total amount of mercury it can tolerate and you develop kidney issues.