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India’s disturbing obsession with fair skin is a universally known fact, one that underlines a misplaced sense of identity that makes for the foundation of our society. And while the internet has been instrumental in enabling brown-skinned Indian women to celebrate their heritage with campaigns like Dark Is Beautiful, there exists an entire world of fairness creams, aggressively endorsed by the biggest stars of the nation, and funded by the monumental fortune amassed by the fairness cream industry by feeding into the India’s biggest insecurity.
Other than the glaringly erroneous message propagated through this, the steroids used in skin lightening agents also make for a highly dangerous product. Mostly unaware of the side effects, women across the country continue to lather the stuff onto their bodies without abandon. In a move recognizing the highly toxic repercussions, both literal and figurative, the Central Government plans to ban over-the-counter sale of fairness creams, without prescription. The ban is likely to cover topical creams that contain corticosteroids - a steroid that is both highly effective at lightening skin and causing it major damage at the same time. The government, working on the advice of the Drug Technical Advisory Board, has basically included corticosteroids - and 13 other harmful steroids - in the Schedule H category of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rule, 1945, according to DNA India. This entails the necessity of a medical prescription before you can purchase these steroids - or any product containing them i.e. fairness creams.
While some of the more popular ones, Fair and Lovely, for example, that do not contain these steroids are unlikely to face the consequences, the more dangerous of the lot will be subject to heavy regulation. Dermatologists have long cautioned against the use of skin lightening chemicals, citing substantial health risks and, in some cases, fatal side effects as reason enough to discontinue their rampant use. But in a country fueled by misinformation, driven by prejudice, and feeding on insecurities, this is but a small step towards solving the issue at its root. Understanding and appreciating our racial heritage, as opposed to resenting it, is paramount to eliminating the need for these highly toxic lotions we incessantly use on our skins, simply to get a few shades paler.
If any dermatologist out there actually ‘prescribes’ someone a fairness cream, then there is something very wrong with their practice.
Featured illustration by Manasi Vaidya for Homegrown.
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