Go skin friendly Don't fall prey to promises Chemical cream How to test for sensitive skin Fairness for the better or worseDo Fairness Creams Really Work

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	Do Fairness Creams Really Work? Scene one, she gets snubbed by the college Mr Popular; scene two, she applies a cream, turns on her...

Scene one, she gets snubbed by the college Mr Popular; scene two, she applies a cream, turns on her charm and becomes a model. Fairness creams have always worked with our fair skin obsessed population. But are they really good for you? Read on to know more

Fairness for the better or worse?

You could be damaging your skin by applying fairness creams to be a shade lighter. "Fairness creams are made in such a way that they immediately reduce your skin colour. However, it may lead to tanning in the long run. They may also lead to redness, itching and burning," says Dr. Swati Srivastava, a Mumbai-based dermatologist.

Dr. Abhijeet Desai, a Mumbai-based skin specialist, says that fairness creams have bleaching agents and chemicals like hydroquinone. High contents of this can be harmful to the skin. Normal skin creams for everyday use have it in small amounts
He says that use of fairness creams on sensitive skin could make it dry and can cause photo reaction or progressive tanning when exposed to the sun.

How to test for sensitive skin?

Before you get yourself a fairness cream, test it for sensitivity. Apply a little on your skin, preferably on your elbow. Do not use it if the patch of skin shows any signs of reaction in 24 hours.

Chemical cream

It's a popular myth that ayurvedic fairness creams are free of chemicals. However, Dr. Desai and Dr. Shrivastava argue that this isn't true. People should not blindly believe that ayurvedic creams are 100% herbal and that they are absolutely safe to use on the skin.

Don't fall prey to promises

Both the doctors told us that no fairness cream can reduce the skin's colour by four to seven shades, as promised by many leading fairness creams. What it really does is that it brightens the skin and removes the melanin from the epidermis or simply put, removes the top layer of the skin.

Go skin friendly

If someone wants to avoid using fairness creams, one can turn to using moisturisers and sunscreens. Moisturisers are recommended for people with both oily and dry skin types. It helps revive the glow of your skin.

"If a woman wants fairer complexion, she can apply milk or malai on her face. Lactic acid in milk and malai creates a similar skin lightening effect as fairness creams do," says Dr Desai. You could also try applying lime juice on your face. "Lime has citric acid which performs the function of exfoliating the skin, like AHA, in chemical-based fairness creams," says Dr. Shrivastava.

Always consult a dermatologist before going for a new  fairness cream with ingredients you are not sure of. Certain creams might cause the skin to lose its elasticity or could cause acne. Consult your doctor if you notice any such signs. After all, healthy glowing skin always makes you smile!