Beware these 3 skin whitening myths

Skin whitening, especially on common areas of the body like armpits, elbow, knees and your groin has long been a popular topic among generations of Filipinos eager to have fairer skin. So much so that folk tales and myths abound.

In a recent Pinoy MD episode, certified dermatologist Jean Marquez schooled us on the causes of skin darkening and debunked pervasive myths.

According to Dr. Marquez, several factors can cause skin darkening including wearing tight pants and shorts. 

"Tight pants put constant friction in the thighs when you walk, and this could lead to darker skin [in the groin area]," she explained.

Other causes of skin darkening include obesity, hormonal imbalances, and even pregnancy.

Meanwhile, she debunked some super pervasive myths on how to whiten your skin. See them below: 

1. Applying lemon to affected areas like elbow, knees, and armpits. On the contrary, lemon can cause pigmentation due to its high acidity.

"Lemon can irritate the skin, especially on delicate areas of the body like the 'singit' and 'kilikili' dahil mataas ito sa acid. So it can irritate the skin, cause inflammation, which can later on cause pigmentation," Marquez confirmed.

2. Using whitening soaps and bars. According to Marquez, a lot of whitening soap, especially in bar form, can actually dry the skin.

"Mag-iingat lang tayo 'pag gumamit nito to make sure na moisturized ang skin and you use sunscreen," she advised.

3. Applying menstrual blood to dark areas of the body

“Hindi talaga nakaka-lighten ito, wala itong pagsasanay," Marquez was quick to note. "This is an old folks tale na hindi dapat ginagawa dahil madumi ‘yan. Dapat nga tinatapon na yan ng ating katawan so there’s no use for that.”

If you're suffering from hyperpigmentation — dark spots and uneven skin tone despite having a consistent skincare routine — here are some ways to prevent it. — LA, GMA News