What To Know About Skin Whitening

Skin bleaching, also known as skin whitening or skin lightening, is the procedure through which the concentration of melanin is lowered by employing chemicals. This is often undertaken so as to attain a more even skin tone. A good number of these solutions consist of topical creams or lotions with melanin-inhibiting chemicals used together with sunscreen and/or a prescription retinoid. Below are several frequently used bleaching agents with specifics on each:

Hydroquinone – Hydroquinone is undoubtedly one of the most widely used substance in skin bleaching. Hydroquinone works by obstructing the skins ability to make melanin. In this sense it is not exactly bleaching the skin, but instead blocking the skin from making new color. Gradually this may give the appearance of lightened skin. Even though this ingredient is known for its effectiveness, You need to know though that it can cause skin irritation for some people. Additionally, the FDA endorsed a ban on over-the-counter sales of products having hydroquinone in 2006. The FDA’s rationale behind the ban were justified by worry that the hydroquinone may perhaps behave as a carcinogen and for that reason contribute to causing cancer. The ban in spite of this failed when it was voted on. It has since been said that the threats caused by this chemical only appertain to to it’s use in excessive proportions or from it’s conjunction with different ingredients that could potentially cause irritation.

Tretinoin – Tretinoin is the acid form of vitamin A. It can be prescribed by a dermatologist in treating skin discoloration in addition to a variety of other skin conditions from acne to hair loss. The skin is also typically more sensitive to sun exposure when using tretinoin.

Arbutin – Arbutin is a formulation generated from the leaves of many plants, but principally the bearberry plant. It performs of melanin. There does however exist questions about whether or not Arbutin presents those same carcinogenic threats that hydroquinone does. Many however contend that it is a healthier alternative for hydroquinone.

Kojic acid – Kojic acid is an acid created from the fermentation of rice. It is consumed in very high concentrations in the Japanese diet and trumpeted as an antioxidant. It is furthermore thought to slow down the producing of melanin. Kojic acid does however lose its effectiveness when exposed to sunlight. It could likewise be irritating to the skin. Lastly some discussion exists concerning whether there exist carcinogenic attributes to this chemical does exist.

Vitamin C – Vitamin C in elevated levels is believed brighten up the skin tone in addition to suppress melanin production. Vitamin C also happens to be a crucial factor in any balanced diet. It can help to guard your skin against deterioration from free radicals.

For more information about skin whitening or uneven skin check out the Uneven Skin Tone Information Center.