Skin Whitening Creams: Their Effects On Your Skin

Skin Whitening Creams: Their Effects On Your Skin

The use of products to lighten the darkened areas on your skin and to achieve a lighter complexion is known as skin bleaching. Skin bleaching can be done by different products like skin lightening creams, injections, pills, and herbal treatments. In reality, there are no proven benefits of using skin lightening creams. It can be harmful to your skin. 

 How do skin whitening creams work?

Skin whitening creams work by decreasing the amount of melanin in the skin. Melanin is a type of skin pigment made by cells called melanocytes. Melanin gives a dark colour to your skin. Bleaching or skin whitening creams work by lowering the number of melanocytes from your skin. 


Most skin whitening creams contain three types of ingredients, hydroquinone, Vitamin C and glycolic acid. Hydroquinone decreases melanocytes from your skin. Vitamin C act as a detoxification agent that can lower melanin production in the skin. Glycolic acid works as an exfoliating agent. It helps to remove the dead cells from the skin and helps to remove dark spots.


 What are the health risks?

We can get powerful skin lightening treatment by the prescription of doctor.  

 Most of these skin brightening creams contain hydroquinone, mercury, and corticosteroids. These ingredients have serious skin effects. 


 Mercury Poisoning:

Skin whitening creams containing mercury can have serious side effect on your body. These products are banned in the United States but other countries still contain mercury in their products. 


FDA has raised serious concerns about the presence of mercury content in skin whitening creams. FDA has limited the amount of mercury to only 1 ppm. Those products exceeding this limit are not safe to use and causes a skin reaction. The large quantity of mercury, when applied to the skin, can cause depression, headache, numbness, and tingling sensation. Moreover, continuous exposure to mercury can damage kidneys and causes nephrotic syndrome, a serious disease of kidneys. 


Studies have shown us that people who used skin lighting creams may suffer from skin irritation and dermatitis. Dermatitis is the inflammatory skin reaction to the offending ingredients in the skin whitening cream. 

Steroid Acne:

People have also reported acne because of the presence of corticosteroids. The main side effect of using skin whitening agents are sores and scarring. Skin whitening creams can cause the skin to break. Which will lead to redness and pain that is difficult to manage.

Exogenous Ochronosis: 

Hydroquinone can cause a serious skin condition known as exogenous ochronosis. This skin condition causes the skin to appear blue and black and can result in permanent skin discoloration. 


Opting the skin whitening cream is a big decision. It can be time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes cannot meet your requirement. If you are absolutely ready to going ahead, do not rush towards it. Gather enough information and try to discuss your plan with your dermatologist. 

Skin lightening creams can help you to overcome unwanted darkening and dark spots. But this lightening comes with some health risks. The efficacy of skin lightening creams hasn’t approved by any research. So, always consult your doctor before applying any skin lightening creams or try herbal treatment first.


Read more

How sugar damages your skin?

How sugar damages your skin?

The Skin Aging Process

The Skin Aging Process

Bakuchiol, a natural alternative to Retinol.

Bakuchiol, a natural alternative to Retinol.