Edit Facebook skin causes controversy

<p>In January the <em>New York Times</em> reported on severe side effects being reported in the US with many skin lightening products - or counterfeit versions of them - containing prescription-strength ingredients. Some concerns about hydroquinone's safety on skin have been expressed, but the research when it comes to topical application indicates negative reactions are minor or a result of using extremely high concentrations or from other skin-lightening agents such as glucocorticoids or mercury iodine. This is particularly true in Africa where adulterated skin lightening products are commonplace. In Japan, the cosmetic lightening industry favours arbutin and kojic acid. Arbutin is derived from the leaves of bearberry, cranberry, mulberry or blueberry shrubs, and also is present in most types of pears. Other ingredients include Vitamin C derivatives, tranexamic acid and an important enzyme called cathecol oxidase, which works either directly or indirectly to stop the creation of melanin.</p> <p>Pankaj Parihar from global advertising firm Omnicom, which designed the Indian Vaseline widget, told AFP "We started campaign advertising (for the application) from the second week of June and the response has been pretty phenomenal".</p> <p><strong>Worldwide Criticism </strong></p> <p>However, the <em>Hindustani Times</em> stated the app has ignited worldwide criticism and states “the application, however, has no takers — virtual or real. Its online rating is ‘Poor’, with close to 700 Facebook users rating it one on a scale of five”. Of our 100 respondents, 70 per cent said they would “never” use the application, 25 per cent said they would “try it out for fun” and 5 per cent said they “weren’t sure.”</p> <p>The Guardian, UK points out, that the parent company of this brand also has other brands, which promote self-esteem. Calling this a hypocritical divide, the paper calls on people to “Vote with your tweets, start blogging, start boycotting and start asking them to stop this campaign for whiter beauty. Only then might marketing people start listening.”</p> <p>The Wall Street Journal points out, “The application is sure to reignite the debate even if it purports only to lighten your skin in photographs.”</p>

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