Why is skin lightening so controversial?

falseatheist · 19-03-2016 12:22AM #1

I don't see why an adult cannot make the decision to lighten their skin if they want to. It should preferably be done under the guidance of a dermatologist who can control the usage of substances like hydroquinone.

But for some reason people think its self hate. Wanting to look good isn't self hate. Abusing drugs and alcohol is self hate IMO. Why do very few question those who get breast implants but most look down on people looking to lighten their skin?

19-03-2016 12:27AM

falseatheist wrote: »

I don't see why an adult cannot make the decision to lighten their skin if they want to. It should preferably be done under the guidance of a dermatologist who can control the usage of substances like hydroquinone.

But for some reason people think its self hate. Wanting to look good isn't self hate. Abusing drugs and alcohol is self hate IMO. Why do very few question those who get breast implants but most look down on people looking to lighten their skin?

Why does being lighter skinned equal looking good?

5starpool · 19-03-2016 12:29AM

Can't imagine there are too many Irish people who want to whiten their skin even more. Is this actually a thing?

9de5q7tsr8u2im · 19-03-2016 12:29AM

Are you talking about the non white race trying to reach some fair skin?

BlibBlab · 19-03-2016 12:32AM

5starpool wrote: »

Can't imagine there are too many Irish people who want to whiten their skin even more. Is this actually a thing?

Big thing in some Asian countries anyway. Also would have been in Europe not so long ago when being pale proved you were rich enough not to have to work outdoors

falseatheist · 19-03-2016 12:32AM

LuckyDude12 wrote: »

Are you talking about the non white race trying to reach some fair skin?

Yes exactly

GreatDefector · 19-03-2016 12:35AM

5starpool wrote: »

Can't imagine there are too many Irish people who want to whiten their skin even more. Is this actually a thing?

The hack of chung-wans who smear pure charcoal on themselves every Friday for Facebook/Snapchat

Suppose the reverse works too

jam_mac_jam · 19-03-2016 12:36AM

It's the fact people feel they have to be lighter skinned to be beautiful. They are also damaging to the skin.

Ice Maiden · 19-03-2016 12:37AM

Would it not be damaging to the skin though? That is what I would deem the main concern. At least fake tan is not damaging (although I know sun-tanning and sunbeds is, for fair-skinned people anyway).

I can see why people would want to do it in the same way fair-skinned people want to have darker skin.

IrishTrajan · 19-03-2016 12:38AM

Candie wrote: »

Why does being lighter skinned equal looking good?

Why does being tan skinned equal looking good?

Bit of a pointless question, no?

19-03-2016 12:38AM

Most people would see it as adhering to a particular, Caucasian, standard of beauty. Generally, in an ideal world, people of other races would aspire to standards of beauty applied to their own racial group and therefore be less unrealistic than that of another race.

People of colour who lighten their skin might be aspiring to a standard of another culture and that might be considered as a rejection of their own.

I'd like if everyone was happy in their own skin, and didn't feel the need to be something else.

I'd ban fake tan towards that end.

falseatheist · 19-03-2016 12:39AM

Ice Maiden wrote: »

Would it not be damaging to the skin though? That is what I would deem the main concern. At least fake tan is not damaging (although I know sun-tanning and sunbeds is, for fair-skinned people anyway).

I can see why people would want to do it in the same way fair-skinned people want to have darker skin.

If scientists invented a safe way to lighten or turn skin white would you be on board?

Ice Maiden · 19-03-2016 12:42AM

falseatheist wrote: »

If scientists invented a safe way to lighten or turn skin white would you be on board?

I wouldn't say I'd be on board - I just wouldn't have much of an opinion on it. I can't relate as I don't do anything to darken my pale skin, but outside of my own personal take, I guess people can do what they wish safely for their appearance.

Alf Stewart. · 19-03-2016 12:44AM

I got me a bit of anal bleaching while back.

Sparkling it is.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 19-03-2016 12:45AM

I don't think skin lightning is viewed as a controversial subject. As long as people are using safe products and not ones containing harmful materials.

falseatheist · 19-03-2016 12:51AM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I don't think skin lightning is viewed as a controversial subject. As long as people are using safe products and not ones containing harmful materials.

I know this African guy called Jeremy who is 25. When he was 18 he told his mother that he wanted to lighten his skin not to look white but a few shades lighter. She went absolutely MENTAL saying " If God wanted you to be white he would have made you white.", "Stop hating yourself!" and other rants.

and I'm pretty sure if you ask a doctor about this they will tell you the same thing. ( excluding the religious talk)

SEPT 23 1989 · 19-03-2016 12:55AM

Drugs and alcohol are fantastic in moderation

Nothing to do with hating oneself

Victor · 19-03-2016 12:58AM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

I don't think skin lightning is viewed as a controversial subject. As long as people are using safe products and not ones containing harmful materials.

Using chemicals on your skin enough for it to bleach it is not safe.

I can imagine an epidemic of cancers cases in years to come.

IrishTrajan · 19-03-2016 12:58AM

falseatheist wrote: »

I know this African guy called Jeremy who is 25. When he was 18 he told his mother that he wanted to lighten his skin not to look white but a few shades lighter. She went absolutely MENTAL saying " If God wanted you to be white he would have made you white.", "Stop hating yourself!" and other rants.

Sadly, anecdotal evidence is not evidence.

falseatheist wrote: »

and I'm pretty sure if you ask a doctor about this they will tell you the same thing. ( excluding the religious talk)

Unfortunately you're not a doctor, you can't really make that claim.

IrishTrajan · 19-03-2016 12:59AM

Victor wrote: »

Using chemicals on your skin enough for it to bleach it is not safe.

I can imagine an epidemic of cancers cases in years to come.

Well, there's an increased risk of cancer from tanning beds, but they're legal.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 19-03-2016 01:01AM

falseatheist wrote: »

I know this African guy called Jeremy who is 25. When he was 18 he told his mother that he wanted to lighten his skin not to look white but a few shades lighter. She went absolutely MENTAL saying " If God wanted you to be white he would have made you white.", "Stop hating yourself!" and other rants.

and I'm pretty sure if you ask a doctor about this they will tell you the same thing. ( excluding the religious talk)

I suppose as his mother, she would prefer that he accepted himself as he is. To be truly happy in life I think you need to feel comfortable in who you are.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 19-03-2016 01:07AM

Victor wrote: »

Using chemicals on your skin enough for it to bleach it is not safe.

I can imagine an epidemic of cancers cases in years to come.

I looked up a bit about this online, there seems to be a wide range of natural skin lightening products available. Old Asian recipes, these don't bleach the skin apparently, they inhibit the production of melanin in the area applied.

Tigger · 19-03-2016 01:20AM

I can hide naked in the snow
If I wasn't a never nude

rubadub · 19-03-2016 01:34AM

falseatheist wrote: »

Why do very few question those who get breast implants but most look down on people looking to lighten their skin?

How many people were involved in this poll you saw/conducted.

I would have no idea about the opinions of any people I know about skin lightening.

falseatheist wrote: »

I know this African guy called Jeremy who is 25. When he was 18 he told his mother that he wanted to lighten his skin not to look white but a few shades lighter. She went absolutely MENTAL saying " If God wanted you to be white he would have made you white.", "Stop hating yourself!" and other rants.

Have you genuinely no idea why she said this, did you ask the guy himself?

diomed · 19-03-2016 03:32AM

When I lived in Africa about forty years a go I saw lots of skin-whitening products in shop windows. It was harmful stuff. The black women went for it big time. The men were not interested.

19-03-2016 03:52AM

It's not like it's some procedure.. It comes in nearly every skin care product in some countries. I was using some nivia stuff with whitening by mistake.
There are baths you can take and while the end result isn't great, who cares.

We view tan as beautiful while they view white the same. But they don't want Caucasian white just the same as we don't aim for Asian when we get a tan.