Skin lightening refers to a generic term covering variety of cosmetic methods to whiten or lighten the skin. It includes similar terms like skin whitening or skin bleaching. Skin lightening topic is surrounded by controversy because it is closely intertwined with its harmful effects on health, identity, self image, racial supremacy, and colonial mentality.
Skin lightening is effective for various purposes including, but not limited to general skin lightening, facial lightening for dark spots, hyperpigmentation treatment, age spot removal / liver spots, freckles removal, scar removal, or general discolorations.
A common types of skin problem that affects most people regardless of ethnic background or skin color is uneven pigmentation. It happens because the body produces either too much or too little melanin, which is the pigment produced by melanocyte cells and triggered by tyrosinase.
Tyrosinase is an enzyme that is responsible for creating the color of the skin, eyes, and hair shades. Hyperpigmentation is caused by increased melanin production, and is often referred to as melasma, chloasma, or solar lentigenes.
People have to be careful because today’s market is full of skin lightening products that contain dangerous and potentially harmful chemicals such as hydroquinone and mercury. The potential health risks posed by such chemicals have made them banned in some countries. Hydroquinone, in medical literature, is the primary topical ingredient for inhibiting melanin production.
It is considered very strong and its components have potent antioxidant abilities. Unfortunately, it can be an unstable ingredient in cosmetic formulations. Hydroquinone in a skin lightening product is still permissible if it amounts up to 2% for safety; however, mercury should be avoided at all, because there is no tolerable limit to the amount of mercury in any product that is safe for human.
It is strongly recommended to use all natural products containing ingredients that are considered safe like Alpha and Beta Arbutin, Gigawhite, Kojic Acid, Azaelaic Acid, and Glutathione. Arbutin is a substance having melanin-inhibiting properties and is derived from the leaves of bearberry, cranberry, mulberry, or blueberry shrubs.
Kojic acid is actually a by-product in the fermentation process of malting rice for use in the manufacturing of sake, the traditional Japaneese rice wine. Azelaic acid, known as a component of grains such as wheat, rye, and barley, is used for treating acne, but other research have shown its effectiveness for skin discolorations.
Glutathione is one of the components of amino acids and is mostly an antioxidant having skin whitening effect. These naturally occurring substances are most commonly used in skin lightening products because they are effective and considered safe for all skin types. Note, however, that extra sensitive skin type will be most likely to have a slight irritation to these substances due to their exfoliating properties. Whatever the reason, all natural products which have had a reasonable test period are highly recommended.
