BUJUMBURA, February 12th (ABP) – Some cosmetic products containing hydroquinone and hydrocortisone have harmful effects on human health. This was announced by dermatologist Dr. Berchmans Ntihebuwayo, working at the Prince Regent Charles Hospital in Buyenzi, during an interview with a check by ABP.
According to him, cosmetology is the field of study concerned with the use of products for the care and beauty of the skin, in particular, the face and the entire body. It also represents the application of cosmetic products by implementing technical and manual methods. Its specialties concern makeup, manicure and pedicure.
The skin needs hygiene, and this skin hygiene can be done using cosmetic products. These are not medicines, but substances that are put on the skin, nails, hair, with the aim of putting them in good condition or hiding an infirmity or an odor. They can also have a social function for the deodorant for a good neighbor or for someone you live with. They have a beneficial property for the skin and its annexes such as hair but do not have a valid therapeutic function, he said.
According to Dr. Ntihebuwayo, they do not treat or cure diseases, yet many people use them as products that help treat and correct defects, including pimples, pigmented white spots, or blackish spots on the skin.
“You’ve got to know that a cream for cosmetic use has an active ingredient and an excipient. The active ingredient is an element that acts while the excipient promotes the feeling of well-being and/or facilitates the penetration of products into the epidermis,” he added.
For infants, it is recommended to use the simplest products suitable for the child without added perfume or proteins. In case of allergy, it is advisable to clean the skin with water and mild soap that is not toxic to remove the products and then moisturize to soothe.
According to him, their effects can have repercussions on human health and even lead to death. These repercussions include voluntary depigmentation of the skin, pimples and black spots on the skin, he stressed, adding that the uncontrolled use of these products generates severe conditions ranging from light burns to eczema, acne, irreversible stretch marks or hyperpilosity or even structural weakening of the skin which leads to phototoxicity when exposed to the sun.
As for psychologist Alain Joseph Hatungimana, the change of the skin by cosmetic products can have a significant psychological impact on a person.
When a person using cosmetics sees an improvement in the appearance of their skin, he said, it can boost their self-confidence and self-esteem. They may feel more comfortable in their own skin and more likely to interact socially.
On the other hand, if cosmetics do not deliver the desired results or cause adverse effects, it can lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety or even depression, he said.
Unrealistic expectations created by advertising and social media can also exacerbate feelings, leading some people to feel dissatisfied with their appearance. It is therefore essential to approach the use of cosmetics with a balanced perspective and to remember that beauty comes in many forms, he said.
Taking care of your skin can be beneficial, but, he said, it is equally important to cultivate a positive self-image, regardless of the products used.