Skin Bleaching

What is skin bleaching?

Skin bleaching refers to the use of products to lighten dark areas of the skin or achieve an overall lighter complexion. These products include bleaching creams, soaps, and pills, as well as professional treatments like chemical peels and laser therapy. Skin bleaching reduces the concentration or production of melanin in the skin. Melanin is a pigment produced by cells called melanocytes. The amount of melanin in your skin is mostly determined by genetics. People with dark skin have more melanin. Hormones, sunlight, and certain chemicals also affect melanin production. When you apply a skin bleaching product to the skin, such as hydroquinone, it decreases the number of melanocytes in your skin. This can result in lighter skin and a more even appearance to the skin.

What are the myths about skin bleaching?

‘Skin bleaching merely removes the tan one gets from the sun’. False; darker skin or melanated skin is an appearance by default, there’s no better, lighter skin underneath it. High end products/services used for skin bleaching predisposes one to the same side effects as lower end products. This is true. The duration of use affects side effects. True. Prolonged use (>4 years) of skin bleaching products produces more serious side effects than those used for shorter periods of time. Darker skin is normal skin. It is not dirty skin that requires brightening to make it clean.

Are there benefits of skin bleaching?

There are no specific health benefits to skin bleaching, but it can have a desirable cosmetic effect on the skin when used to treat certain skin conditions. Skin bleaching may also be an unwanted side effect of using a cosmetic product to treat a skin condition.

What are the dangers of bleaching?

Because of the negative health implications and the psychological hold skin bleaching has on individuals; especially of darker skin tones, a number of countries have banned skin bleaching products. In August 2017, the Food and Drug Administration in Ghana banned the importation of all products with hydroquinone.

Mercury poisoning

Studies have linked prolonged use of skin bleaching creams to mercury toxicity. Signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning include:

• Numbness
• High blood pressure
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to light
• Neurologic symptoms, such as tremor, memory loss, and irritability
• Kidney failure

Dermatitis

Case studies and reports have linked the use of skin bleaching products to contact dermatitis. This is inflammation of the skin caused by contact with certain substances. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include:

• Skin redness
• Blisters
• Skin ulcers
• Hives
• Dry, scaly skin
• Swelling
• Itching
• Burning and tenderness

Exogenous onochronosis (nanso ɛbɛn)

Exogenous onochronosis (EO) is a skin disorder that causes blue-black sometimes greenish pigmentation. It usually occurs as a complication of long-term use of skin bleaching creams that contain hydroquinone. People who use it on large areas of the body or on the entire body are more likely to develop EO.

Steroid acne

Skin bleaching creams that contain corticosteroids can cause steroid acne. Steroid acne mostly affects the chest, but can also show up on the back, arms, and other parts of the body with long-term use of corticosteroids. Symptoms can include:

• Whiteheads and blackheads
• Small red bumps
• Large, painful red lumps
• Acne scars

Nephrotic syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder often caused by damage to the blood vessels in your kidneys responsible for filtering waste and excess water. It causes your body to excrete too much protein in your urine. Skin lightening creams containing mercury have been associated with nephrotic syndrome.