Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Fairness

Helloo Friends,

I came across this article on TIMES OF INDIA which I would like to share. I hate this topic to an extend that I find it being racist.I use such a strong word because it is the harsh truth of our society. From a kid to an adult  everyone should be fair. when a lady conceives a child , people around her will tell her 1000 different things  so the child is born fair. From being a preferred  student to preferred candidate in a job interview , a fair skin get it all. Ahhhh !! I am so disgusted with this topic that I can't even say more please read the article and try and open up your brains.

Indians obsessed with fairness creams

Stuti Agarwal, TNN 

With WHO issuing a warning that fairness creams ruin your skin, we bring out the 'un'fair play of advertising.

What connects Shah Rukh Khan, Shahid Kapur,John Abraham, Genelia D'Souza, Deepika Padukone and now Yaami Gautam? They have all endorsed fairness creams, which promise to be your ticket to the world of glamour.

That Indians are obsessed with fairness is evident from the way these creams do brisk business in the country. But is everything fair in the advertising game?

A recent warning issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) says that the common ingredient in skin lightening products — mercury — can have adverse effects such as kidney damage, reduction in the skin's resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, anxiety, depression or psychosis and also peripheral neuropathy.

The warning is especially serious for India as 61% of the dermatological market here consists of skin lightening products. Apart from mercury, the creams also contain harmful ingredients such as hydroquinone and ammonia.

"Hydroquinone leads to permanent disruption of melanocytes, which produces melanins. After long use, some cells become permanently inactive resulting in white patches," said dermatologist Rathindra Nath Dutta.

Beautician Prairna Khuller said the creams also have raw acid in the form of ammonia. 

"Ammonia is a bleaching agent which burns the skin. Not surprisingly, advertisements for fairness creams afford to come with a shade card to mark the stages in the progress from dark to a lighter skin. Regular use of such products loosens the skin leading to wrinkles."

Consultant dermatologist Saumya Panda said, "I haven't read the WHO report so its difficult for me to comment. But it's true that these creams contain mercury which is a hypo pigmenting agent. I feel, the findings should be taken seriously."

Yaami Gautam, who is the brand ambassador of a leading fairness cream in the country, said, "The cream has been there in the market from before I was born. And it has just grown bigger and bigger. If people had faced skin issues after applying it, they would have come forward. However, that doesn't mean I'm challenging WHO — it's a global watchdog and its findings must have some basis. But I'm sure once the manufacturing companies know of it, they will behave responsibly."

Next time, look before you make the 'un'fair deal. The names to look for on the cover include mercury, Hg, mercuric iodide, mercurous chloride, ammoniated mercury, amide chloride of mercury, quicksilver, cinnabaris, hydrargyri oxydum rubrum (mercury oxide), mercury iodide. Directions to avoid contact with silver, gold, rubber, aluminum and jewellery may also indicate the presence of mercury.