Are Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Good for Skin Whitening?

Media personalities, prominent people, and celebrities viewed skin whitening as a status symbol in the past. At the same time, skin whitening was only possible with highly specialized surgery equipment. But, currently, you can use the usual compounds you use every day to whiten skin. Could Baking Soda and Hydrogen peroxide be among these skin whitening compounds?

Bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are effective for skin whitening. Nevertheless, they can cause severe irritation and skin burning besides other health effects. Therefore, before using either of them, they need to be combined with other reagents to neutralize their toxicity.

Considering the health side effects of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda on the skin, you need to read ahead for detailed info on their use. You will also learn of other possible skin whitening methods apart from using hydrogen peroxide.

Is Hydrogen Peroxide Safe for Use on My Skin?

Hydrogen peroxide is a pale blue chemical acid useful as bleach as well as an oxidizing agent. Its uses extend from cleaning products to skincare products and as antiseptics.  The compound contains extra oxygen molecules useful for the bleaching and oxidization functions; however, it is no longer safe for application on human skin because of toxicity.

But, it was in use as an alternative treatment for wounds and skin acne besides other issues. But even then, very minimal concentrations not exceeding 10% were used. Whenever it is in contact with human skin, hydrogen peroxide releases the excess oxygen foaming that removes dead skin cells.

 The use of hydrogen peroxide proved to be of help in the following skin areas:

• Acne

Acne results from clogged pores after piles of dirt accumulate on the skin surface that causes bacteria infestation. During the treatment, hydrogen peroxide hardly settles on the skin for long because of water in the skin. 

 

Therefore, higher chances are that if you used the chemical, you might feel the need to apply it repeatedly for quick healing, hence exceeding the 10% concentration. 

It will, therefore, result in inflammation and adverse acne despite killing the bacteria.

• Wounds

These wounds may comprise of deep cuts and other skin surface injuries.  So hydrogen peroxide will do great work in cleaning the wounds. However, what you did not know is that in its process of cleaning, it will tamper with your body’s healing cells and flush out all cells from the surface. 

 

Therefore, you will be at risk of having an unhealed wound for prolonged periods, thus causing blistering in the skin.

• Skin Whitening

Most dark spots on the skin are results of sunburns, hormonal imbalance, medications, or different pimple scars. These would disappear by hydrogen peroxide but, it would also irritate the skin despite its bleaching and lightening feature.

Why Should You Not Use Hydrogen Peroxide on the Skin?

Lower chemical concentrations are easy to work with, but today many people want quick and fast turnarounds; hydrogen peroxide should be off your reagents list. Higher concentrations are a health risk when they get in contact with the eyes or inhaled. It can also cause burning, blistering, vomiting, coughing, and other breathing problems.

As much as it was in use before, hydrogen peroxide is no longer recommended for use since the more technology grows, the more its constitutes changes. Therefore, today even a tiny concentration, as low as three percent, can cause adverse skin irritation and inflammation effects.

Therefore, hydrogen oxide is your worst bet for skin whitening unless used with a different compound that will neutralize its concentration to lower than a 1% concentration. 

How to Whiten Your Skin with Hydrogen Peroxide?

Since hydrogen peroxide has adverse skin effects even after completing your desired function- it is best to use it with an additional agent that can neutralize its side effects. However, even when using other agents, you should maintain the hydrogen peroxide concentration below 1%.

Here are some of the ways you may want to try hydrogen peroxide.

Hydrogen Peroxide Face Mask

If you want to bleach your face with hydrogen peroxide, you will need to make a facemask paste for use at least once a week. The once-in-a-week period is to reduce the extent of hydrogen peroxide contact with your body.

• Add 1tbsp. of, hydrogen peroxide into a bowl, along with 1tablespoon of milk and 2.5 tablespoons (20g) of flour. Ensure you have the exact measurement for every component to neutralize hydrogen peroxide.

 

• Mix the ingredients using a wooden spatula or a plastic spoon. These two won’t react with hydrogen peroxide.

 

• Add enough water to create a thin paste that you can apply as the face mask.

 

• Using a brush, apply the mask to your face.

 

• Let it settle for 10 minutes until it’s dried. Make sure you don’t leave it for more than 10 minutes to avoid the paste’s burning effect on your face. In addition, should you notice the paste dried off your skin before 10 minutes, make sure the next time you make such a paste; add more water to make it light.

 

• Some people might have a sensitive face, so should the paste irritate, or burn your skin, wash the mask off immediately.

 

• Wash off the mask with warm water after 10 minutes is over. However,  you won’t wash as usual; you should:  splash water on the paste mask for softening it. Then, with your fingers, gently wipe out the contents-mask.

 

• Make sure you splash wash your face with water to rinse it clean. Note, if you rub your face might stir irritation from the paste’s effects.

 

• Pat your face with a dry towel to remove excess water from the skin. You, however, have to be careful not to rub your face; at this point, if you did not rinse your face well, you will notice immediate bleach on the towel.

 

• The whitening results on your skin may be visible after one week. If you don’t see any, use the mask repeatedly, once a week for visible changes on your face.

Whitening Dark Patches on the Skin

This method works best when you have to fade off dark spots on your skin on your knees, underarms, or elbows.

• Grate a 30grams bar of washing soap into a plastic bowl. Avoid using scented bar soap to brighten your skin.

• Add a 30ml (2 tbsp.) of hydrogen peroxide to the plastic container. There may be bubbles from the content, so make sure you don’t look directly into the bowl.

• With a plastic or wooden spoon, stir the contents to get a thick paste. You should not use metal spoons because of their reaction to hydrogen peroxide.

• Use the wooden or plastic spoon to apply the paste to the dark spot. However, make sure the paste does not touch any section of the skin that you don’t want to bleach.

• Rest where you won’t move that part as the paste settles for 10 minutes. Should you feel any form of burning on your skin, wash off the paste immediately. Next time you should let the paste sit for a shorter span lesser than 10 minutes.

• Splash warm water on the surface to rinse off the paste, avoiding scrubbing your skin. It can irritate the surface, so you must be gentle as much as possible. Use the procedure once a week until you see faded dark spots on the skin.

Is Baking Soda Good for Skin Whitening?

Due to its bleaching properties, baking soda is an efficient bleach to lighten any dark spot on the skin, though it may irritate the skin. However, when mixed with a different bleaching agent such as lemon juice, it smoothly lightens any dark spots on the skin.

How Do You Whiten Your Skin Using Baking Soda?

Although baking soda has no direct skin-whitening effects, it unclogs clogged pores removing dead skin cells. Baking soda also prevents bacterial infections by unclogging pores and removing dead skin cells. 

Here are several ways you may want to use baking soda to whiten your skin:

Baking Soda with Lemon Juice

This procedure is best for use at night because the lemon juice on your face can cause dark skin from the sun’s effect. 

• Squeeze half a lemon in a bowl, and add a single teaspoon of baking soda.

• Mix the contents into a thick paste.
• Clean your face and slightly damp it using a rinsed towel.
• Apply the content on any blemishes first and cover them.
• Apply it to the other areas of the face and leave it for few minutes.
• Wash your face with some warm water, then use a cold splash too.
• On a dry skin face, apply a moisturizer with any relative sun-protection factor of not less than 30. You can try the procedure once or twice a week for tremendous effects.

Baking Soda and Orange Juice

Oranges contain Vitamin C that is useful for clearing dark spots on the face.

• Squeeze an orange juice into a bowl or two spoons of baking soda.
• Mix to paste and apply it on any dark spot or your whole surface.
• Give it some minutes for drying before washing with cold water.
• Use a clean towel to dry your face off any water drops. You might consider practicing the formula every day for the best results.

Baking Soda and Honey

Here the mixture works by depending on baking soda’s removal of dead cells from the skin. In honey, you can be sure to have antibacterial and antiseptic abilities as well as other humectants that draw moisture from the skin.

• Mix equal quantities of both components (baking soda and honey).
• Mix into a thick paste and apply on the face.
• Wash off with cold water after drying.

Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple Cider Vinegar has acetic acid that removes dead cells from the skin. Thus, getting rid of any dark spots on the skin.

• With two spoons of baking soda, mix some apple cider vinegar in a bowl.
• Apply the paste on your face and let it dry for few minutes.
• After drying, wash it off with cold water.

Baking Soda and Milk

Milk has lactic acid for the treatment of all adverse pigmentation levels on the skin. Therefore;

• Add an equal mixture of baking soda and milk.
• Mix into a paste.
• Apply on the dark spots or wherever part of the face you want
• Rinse off with cold water after letting it dry for few minutes.

Baking Soda and Potato Juice

Potatoes enrich starch useful for the treatment of hyperpigmentation on the face. It does this by bleaching the face hence getting rid of any dark spots.

• Add some potato juice to a bowl with two spoons of baking soda.
• Mix them up to paste.
• Apply on the dark spots and wash off with clean water.

Is It Safe to Mix Hydrogen Peroxide with Water for Skin Lightening?

Both hydrogen peroxide and water are bleaching agents, so mixing them without specific measurements can cause inflammation or irritation effects on the skin. However, you can opt for the following procedure to get a safe mixture.

• Clean your face and dry off with a clean towel.
• Add a 1tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide and a similar amount of baking soda in a plastic bowl. 
• Mix the contents to a thick paste using a plastic or wooden spoon only.
• Apply the paste gently on your face using your fingers or a brush. However, it might be more efficient to use your fingers since brushes can splash the content to your eyes. Therefore, despite any means you use, make sure the paste does not get into your eyes.
• Leave it on the face for 5 minutes. However, in case you feel any burning or irritation, you should wash it off immediately.
• Rinse your face with cold water without scrubbing the skin surface. That may cause irritation or burning of the skin.
• Apply any product that cannot clog pores (non-comedogenic moisturizer) like grapeseed oil or sunflower oil. You can use the procedure once a week as long as you don’t feel or see any side effects on the skin until you achieve the desired tone.

https://makeupandbeauty.com/how-to-use-baking-soda-for-dark-spots/

https://www.verywellhealth.com/hydrogen-peroxide-for-skin-5104959