Daily Times

Sir: As a student of Applied Biosciences and a concerned citizen, I request the concerned authorities to check the emerging trend of using fairness creams not only by females but also by the opposite gender. In our society people with dark complexion are not considered to be beautiful .This approach has given birth to a skin complexion. Cosmetic companies exploit this complexion and make different fairness creams and other products, which they advertise through the electronic and print media. Many people are enticed to use these so-called fairness creams without knowing the harmful effects of these products. Fairness creams contain chemical substances that badly affect melanin pigment in our skin. Melanin is a natural skin pigment that is quite useful in protecting our skin from ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer.

Internationally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests the safety level of these products before declaring them safe for human use. On the other hand in our country, a number of fake and local fairness creams are made and even advertised without being approved by FDA or other such authorities. Most of women and even men use these unapproved harmful creams with the desire of getting fair complexion. Their skin tone comparatively becomes light in a couple of weeks which encourages them to use these creams more frequently ultimately encountering the harmful dermatological disorders like acne, wrinkles etc. I will conclude by saying that there is a dire need to create awareness among people about these facts. This will only be possible if the concerned public health authority works competently and approves the marketing of only safe products and discourage the advertisements of those products which do not meet safety standards.

RIDA-E-ZAINAB NAQVI

Rawalpindi