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Do all cosmetics in the market specially skin whitening cream contain Steroids? And is it good or bad for skin if cosmetic cream contains steroids?

Harmful effects of using steroids in skin whitening cream and if there is any advantages of using steroids in cream then what are those advantages .

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Question added by Shaik Sayed Md Rashidul Hossain , Deputy Manager , BRAC
Date Posted: 2017/05/20

majority whitening cream is Hydroquinone ranging fron 2 -4% may be higher

some may contain topical Cortico steroid  such as 1% hydrocortisone which is bad in long term application. If contain potent topical steroid can cause telangiectasia, atrophy and thinning of skin very bad for skin

First of all, it is a misnomer and politically incorrect to talk of " skin whitening" . I personally believe that what we should refer to it as skin conditioning with pigment correction , so that the end result is bright and cool and not fair and lovely /handsome ,whatever.

The non Caucasian fixation on white skin is a form of body dysmorphia and needs to be corrected psychologically. We can all look great without being fair!

Steroids in cosmetics is not a prescribed practice in plastic surgery or aesthetic medicine. It is not good to use steroids long term on your skin cos it leads to increased capillary fragility,atrophy of skin ,poor healing ,and a host of other unwanted side effects.

What you touch upon here is pigment correction;I use it mainly for melesma,post inflammatory conditions in type3-4 skin types and above. These are what we call tyrosinase inhibtors. The tyrosine in your body makes melanin in the basal layers of your epidermis. Tyrosinase is the rate limiting enzyme in this reaction and we inhibit it with standardized  treatments using safe tryosinase inhibitors in the form of kojic acid, licorice,alpha arbutin and a few others. These have no undesirable side effects on your skin.

 

Play it safe and use only substances that are safe for your skin. Avoid non evidence based therapies which are questionable, like skin whitener  bleaches, injections/capsules(glutamine for instance,high percentage hydroquinone-can cause ochronosis in some darker skin types(blue black discoloration).

 

Welcome to visit my aesthetic and smile blogs on

www.the speakingpalate.blogspot.com and my skincare line smilemakernyc.com   there are over a million views since September across the US and other nations.

cheers,

bona

ATUL SHARMA
by ATUL SHARMA , ASSISTANT PROFESSOR CUM JUNIOR CONSULTANT , SUPERSPECIALITY PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL AND POST GRADUATE TEACHING INSTITUTE

Hi, not all skin lightening /whitening creams contain steroids. They mostly have a number of hypopigmentary ingredients which are non steroidal and such non steroidal preparations should be preffered. Steroid based creames are useful in acute inflammatory conditions like allergies but should be used only for a short term (3-7) days . long term use of steroid based creams leads to skin atrophy,telengectasias and poor healing

Ganesh Mani
by Ganesh Mani , POST DOCTORAL FELLOW , HANSEO UNIVERSITY

POTENTIALY BAD UPON USING IN LONGTERM SHORT TERM AND FOR MEDICAL PRUPOSE NO PROBELM. IN CASE OF WHITENING CREAM LOTS OF CREAM WITH OUT STEROIDS ARE AVAILABLE.

Shamelle Govender
by Shamelle Govender , Research Pharmacist , Perinatal HIV Research Unit

No, not ALL cosmetics in the market contain steroids.

It is bad for skin cosmetic creams to contain steroids. These known as corticosteroids can cause skin thinning and hyperpigmentation with long term use.

nakul sharma
by nakul sharma , manger , google

Many cosmetics companies are available in the market, But there is also a risk it's good or bad for the skin, I have suggested the name of Monaas CFI, they provide natural care cosmetics products. The products made by herbal and you can use the products without any risk. You can visit the website for more information.

Dr ZEJNA VELAGIC
by Dr ZEJNA VELAGIC , dermatologist , DERMA ESTETIKA SKIN CLINIC

It has been shown that some over the counter skin whitening creams contain steroids eventhough they do not have it on their labels. Short term (3-7 days) use of corticosteroids on the skin is beneficial in some cases, like soothing allergies or side effects of skin whitening ingredients however long term and frequent use of corticosteroid containing creams may cause thinning (atrophy) of the skin  and teleangiectasia formtion.

Deepak Talreja
by Deepak Talreja , Dermatologist , MOH

Most of the cosmetic creams contain steroids and hydroquinone, except few trusted multiational brands which do not contain steroids. 

There are lots of side effects of steroids on skin, like atrophy, telangiectasias, hirsutism,  hypertension, diabetes and i have seen cases of cushing syndrome due to steroids. 

However if low potency steroids of non-atrophy causing steroids used for short peroids along with hydroquinone cream in combination with tretinoin, will give good cosmetic results.

akarib hussain ghulam abbas
by akarib hussain ghulam abbas , superviser , lottee chemicals

mostly cosmatics are stteriods

Shahaji Patil
by Shahaji Patil , Manufacturing production Executive , Ajmal perfumes

Yes, the cream which contain steroid is harmful for skin .

ليلي الطيب
by ليلي الطيب , مجمع البندر الطبي لجلديه والتجميل , مجمع سمايا الطبي

Skin bleaching is a cosmetic treatment to reduce the prominence of skin discolorations and even out the color of the skin. You can buy bleaching creams over the counter and by prescription. Some people apply skin lightener to their entire body to change their complexion, but this can be very risky. The active ingredient in some skin lighteners is mercury, so bleaching can lead to mercury poisoning. Mercury is a toxic agent that can cause serious psychiatric, neurological, and kidney problems. Pregnant women who use a skin lightener with mercury can pass the mercury to their unborn child. The use of mercury as an ingredient in skin lighteners is banned in the U.S. However, some skin lighteners produced outside the U.S. may still contain mercury.

The most widely used ingredient in skin lighteners sold in the U.S. is hydroquinone.

The FDA regulates the use of hydroquinone in the U.S. Over-the-counter skin lighteners can contain up to 2% hydroquinone. Dermatologists can write prescriptions for lighteners that contain 4%-6% hydroquinone.

Other skin lighteners use drugs such as steroids and retinoic acid, which comes from vitamin A, as active ingredients. And some skin lighteners use natural ingredients such as kojic acid -- a compound that comes from a fungus -- and arbutin, a compound found in various plants

The side effects of all of this are

 

  • Prolonged use can contribute to premature aging of skin.
  • Long-term use may increase the risk of skin cancer from sun exposure. Always use sunscreen when using a skin lightener and going out in the sun.
  • 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 (ochronosis).
  • Various bleaching agents, including natural ingredients, can cause skin irritation or allergic reaction.

 Because of all of thatIf you have any questions about a product you are considering, talk with your doctor or pharmacist to be certain it's safe. Your dermatologist may also recommend other treatment options, such as chemical peelsmicrodermabrasion, and laser treatments.

 

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