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Hey of course we understand
. Sometimes I feel like such a newbie myself, and so clueless still!

I would buy the mono if I were you...I mean what's the worse that could happen? remember mono is for TOTAL DEPIGMENTATION! that pale vampireish look you want which I happen to think is beautiful as well. remember people usually get that streak or discoloration at the beginning...there is no partial depigmentation with mono its either 100% or no percent! I think you'd be fine. go for it...nothing has ever been achieved without trial and errorThat would be awesome! Thanks again.![]()
all true ondine. however these side effects that you mentioned....reports show that they are prevalent in people of color, not just any color but skin color that is usually rich brown, or dark brown or black. I know some one who is using mono on her own, she's the singer Shakira's complexion. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LIGHTER SHE PLANS TO GET!!!! I'd be on cloud nine with a years pass to newyork's hottest gay club if I were her skin tone! karenannev is already very light, if there were any side effects (which I doubt there would be where she is concerned) I doubt they'd be noticeable by the naked human eye. she's only going to be trying it out, and she's not going to use THAT much considering she's already very light skinned and only needs to get a few shades lighter to reach her desired skin tone."...I mean what's the worse that could happen?"- Enticing
Enticing, that is not a question to ever leave open-ended & assume the answer is 'nothing'. What you're saying isn't supported by the factual info out there re mono (Go to Googlw Scholar & search monobenzone depigmentation). Researchers are uncertain as to how it works in the body. It is simply not understood. ALL the sources I've checked say the same thing.
In some people it doesn't even work & Drs don't know why that is. Another thing that mystifies them is that, for example, a person applies mono 20% to their left arm &, while this area depigments, they notice satellite depigmentation in the middle of their back. How or why this happens is unknown.
Another problem is that in some people mono triggers hyperpigmentation! When mono is tested on animals, it causes hyperpigmentation in most cases but does the reverse in most people. they know what it is, how to make it & what it is likely to do & not do BUT they haven't a clue as to the whys & hows of it. For me, that is a BIG problem because they are unaware of potential systemic effects. Since it has only been tested on humans with widespread vitiligo (an autoimmune disorder) Nothing is known about how it works in otherwise healthy people.
Mono is NOT 100% permanent in all people. Many need to maintain with biweekly applications. Even if all melanocyted in the skin have ceased to produce melanin, melanin also resides in the hair follicle & some people begin repigmenting through that melanin.
Some of the 'worst that can happen' is:
- permanent disfigurement through extreme thinning.
- severe irritation
- severe rashes
- eczema
THere are more risks that have been posted elsewhere. This is not a cosmetic bleach but a strong depigmenting agent which is not understood even by those compounding it. Until the above questions are resolved & more is understood about it, I'd urge curious people to watch the emerging research but not experiment on their own bodies.
I would soooo go for it! I love experimenting so much! thats how you learn and thats how you grow as a person, as an individual both physically and intellectually! ya the sun is a BIG NO NO NO FOR EVERYONE! forget the beach...forget the park...forget all that...the sun ages you quicker than cigarets and alcohol and cancer put together.Thanks again both of you. Enticing, the sun avoidance is not a problem for me. I have avoided the sun for so many years and even more so now. I won't let it touch me, period. Summer is over now in Australia and I can safely say I got no sun exposure whatsoever. I wore long sleeves every single day, used sunscreen and my umbrella. And I'm very much an indoors person. I am so used to avoiding the sun, I intend it to be a lifelong thing.
Ondine, has there been any evidence of people with vitiligo using it getting cancer, kidney problems or anything else? And the severe rashes? Does that happen to everyone? I'm just sort of hoping that I may be OK. I was thinking about using just a tiny amount on my face to start with, perhaps combined with RA. If I used 50/50 mono/RA, would that not decrease the mono to 10% instead of 20%? Maybe that's a silly question, I don't know. When you used it, did you have any irritation or discomfort? I can't believe I haven't asked you that yet! I know you said it was very thick and pasty, but other than that what was it like to use? Did you use it on your face? Sorry for all the questions, but I know you won't mind. Thanks
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I have bought and used monobenxone/benoquin for several months. I have had enormous success with it. As a scientist, I am aware of the scant scientific peer reviewed literature about this compound, and I am aware of the risks. I am Caucasian and I am using monobenzone to complete my skin lightening that I initially started with intense pulsed light/broad band light (laser) treatments which I had performed all over my body, multiple times. This laser treatment removed all of my sun spots (solar lentigos), freckles, and interestingly, any body hair that was in the area treated. To prevent additional freckles and spots from appearing in the future, I am choosing to chemically lighten my skin with benoquin and permanently remove melanin that would contribute to the appearance of these spots. For those who are curious, I am NOT albino, chalky, etc. I look entirely normal and just like what I am...a light-skinned (fair) person. I am aware of the Michael Jackson speculation, and I am aware of Dr. Vicki Ashley, who is listed on the web as someone who reported skin lightening on her own...but I am not overly interested in people I don't really know and thus cannot honestly prove/disprove what they did/report doing. I can offer what I did for my own regimen and I can tell you honestly what to expect. As a professonal trained in the science of pharamcology (this is not pharmacy) and toxicology, I think I can offer a unique perspective to this issue.
To be frank, because I TEACH MDs and PharmDs, I can tell you that they know little about these compounds. They simply do not have experience with patients who use skin lighteners because it is not terribly common. In fact, if you review the scientific literature (not the lay press) you will see what is said: most dermatologists do not have experience with these compounds and virtually NONE know of anyone in their practice who has depigmented. Thus, they really cannot confidently advise anyone.
After reading many of the threads in this site, I see a lot of misinformation and speculation. I am happy to answer questions if they are legitimate. I am not interested in fueling guesswork and unsubstantiated ideas. Scientists have an obligation to report facts and the truth, and not the special interests/opinions of others. So, you will certainly be getting straight information and if I don't know/don't have experience with a certain modality of skin lightening, I will simply say so.
I am publishing a book on skin lightening in a few months, and this is based on the scientific literature, not reports in women's magazines, advertisements from people with financial interests in certain compounds, or opinions from people who lack a scientific background....so this might provide another source of information for those interested.
So, if anyone has a real query, I am happy to address it.
-ScienceChick
Bumping for Ondine, who may have missed thisOndine, has there been any evidence of people with vitiligo using it getting cancer, kidney problems or anything else? And the severe rashes? Does that happen to everyone? I'm just sort of hoping that I may be OK. I was thinking about using just a tiny amount on my face to start with, perhaps combined with RA. If I used 50/50 mono/RA, would that not decrease the mono to 10% instead of 20%? Maybe that's a silly question, I don't know. When you used it, did you have any irritation or discomfort? I can't believe I haven't asked you that yet! I know you said it was very thick and pasty, but other than that what was it like to use? Did you use it on your face? Sorry for all the questions, but I know you won't mind. Thanks
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