Skin-lightening Creams Research Articles

Effects of Skin Lightening Cream Agents - Hydroquinone and Kojic Acid, on the Skin of Adult Female Experimental Rats.

IntroductionSkin bleaching is the act of using steroid- and chemical-containing products to lighten the skin. Hydroquinone and kojic acid are often used in skin bleaching creams. Hydroquinone was suspected to be harmful. This study investigated the effects of kojic acid and hydroquinone on the skin of adult female Wistar rats and the potential use of aloe vera for amelioration.Materials and MethodsEighty [n=80] adult female Wistar rats with an average weight of 120 g were randomly divided into eight groups, marked A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. Group A animals served as the control group; group B was treated with 2% hydroquinone, group C was treated with 2% kojic acid, group D was treated with 4% hydroquinone, group E was treated with 4% kojic acid, group F was treated with 2% hydroquinone and 2% kojic acid, group G was treated with 4% hydroquinone and 4% kojic acid, and group H was treated with 4% hydroquinone, 4% kojic acid, and aloe vera. The preparations were applied to the tail skin and treatment lasted 28 days. Skin samples were excised and processed using H&E, Masson’s trichrome, and p65 immunohistochemical assays on tissue sections.ResultsHydroquinone caused structural disruptions of the stratum corneum of the epidermis and the overlying keratin. p65 was also prominently expressed in the treated groups. Hydroquinone reduced skin thickness and caused epidermis disruption.DiscussionThe prominent expression of p65 in the sections indicated deleterious effects of hydroquinone. Kojic acid was not found to have deleterious effects. Aloe vera prevented extensive disruption of stratum corneum by hydroquinone. The use of hydroquinone in skin lightening creams might raise health concerns. Aloe vera could be protective against hydroquinone.

5]Helicene-rhodamine 6 G hybrid-based sensor for ultrasensitive Hg2+ detection and its biological applications

A novel chromogenic and fluorometric sensor based on [5]helicene-like-dye-bearing rhodamine 6 G thiohydrazide, i.e. NF09, was successfully designed and synthesized for the detection of Hg2+. NF09 exhibited ultrasensitive and highly selective recognition of Hg2+ on the basis of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer process from the [5]helicene-like donor to the rhodamine 6 G acceptor. The photophysical properties of the sensor illustrated the very large pseudo-Stokes shift of 187 nm. NF09 exhibited the effective determination of the trace levels of Hg2+, with a low detection limit of 0.3 ppb (1.5 nM), which was below the maximum Hg2+ concentration in drinking water specified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. On the basis of the chromogenic change properties, NF09 can detect Hg2+ by naked-eye detection in real samples, such as skin-lightening cream, mussel, tuna fillet and salmon fillet. In addition, this sensor exhibited the efficient detection of Hg2+ in human cells and plant root tissues by fluorescence imaging. The successive detection and effective response of the sensor ensure that it can be utilized for the real-time monitoring and control of Hg2+ contamination outbreak.

Prussian blue-doped nanosized polyaniline for electrochemical detection of benzenediol isomers.

Simultaneous speciation of benzenediol isomers (BDIs), 1,2-benzenediol (catechol, CC), 1,3-benzenediol (resorcinol, RS), and 1,4-benzenediol (hydroquinone, HQ), was investigated by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) using a graphite paste electrode (GPE) modified with Prussian blue-polyaniline nanocomposite. The modified GPE showed good stability, sensitivity, and selectivity properties for all the three BDIs. Prussian blue-doped nanosized polyaniline (PBNS-PANI) was synthesized first by using mechanochemical reactions between aniline and ferric chloride hexahydrate as the oxidants and then followed by the addition of potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) in a solid-state and template-free technique. The material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The DPV measurements are performed in phosphate electrolyte solution with pH4.0 at a potential range of - 0.1 to 1.0V. The proposed modified electrode displayed a strong, stable, and continuous three well-separated oxidation peaks towards electrooxidation at potentials 0.20, 0.31, and 0.76V for HQ, CC, and RS, respectively. The calibration curves were linear from 1 to 350.5μM for both HQ and CC, while for RS, it was from 2 to 350.5μM. The limit of detection was determined to be 0.18, 0.01, and 0.02μM for HQ, CC, and RS, respectively. The analytical performance of the PBNS-PANI/GPE has been evaluated for simultaneous determination of HQ, CC, and RS in creek water, commercial hair dye, and skin whitening cream samples with satisfactory recoveries between 90 and 106%. Overall, we demonstrated that the presence of NS-PANI and PB resulted in a large redox-active surface area that enabled a promising analytical platform for simultaneous detection of BDIs. Graphical abstract.

Knowledge, pattern and determinants of the use of skin-lightening creams among University Undergraduates in Southwestern Nigeria

Background: Fair skin has been associated with beauty and sexual attraction. Aggressive marketing of skin-lightening products to unsuspecting members of the general population continues despite their numerous side effects. Aim: This study assessed the knowledge and pattern of the use of skin-lightening creams (SLCs) among undergraduates in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study among University undergraduates. Three hundred undergraduates were selected using multistage sampling method. The research instrument used was a semi-structured, self-administered, pretested questionnaire. Data were analysed using the SPSS version 23.0 software. Results: The mean age of the students was 21.0 (±3.4) years. Most (283, i.e., 94.3%) of the students were aware of SLCs, with the Internet being the most common source of information. About 69.0% had good knowledge, while 67.0% had a poor attitude towards the use of SLC. Eighty-one (27.0%) respondents knew that SLC had side effects, 114 (38.0%) had ever used SLC, 69 (60.5%) still use SLC now, while 45 (39.5%) have stopped. Among those who had ever used, 108 (94.7%) said that they knew the chemical ingredient in SLC, 34 (29.8%) usually checked the label before use, 108 (94.7%) usually obtained SLC products from the supermarkets/shops. Predictors of the use of SLC in this study were female and age older than 19 years. Conclusion: Good knowledge but poor attitude characterised the significant proportion of SLC users under the study, and this underscored the need for improved public awareness in this regard and targeting this young, vulnerable population.

White Pearl by Anchuli Felicia King

Reviewed by: White Pearl by Anchuli Felicia King Jenna Gerdsen WHITE PEARL. By Anchuli Felicia King. Directed by Desdemona Chiang. Studio Theatre, Milton Theatre, Washington, D.C. December 13, 2019. In the final moments of White Pearl, a smartphone and fried chicken flew across Studio Theatre’s stage. Desdemona Chiang’s staging of Felicia Anchuli King’s play literally left Washington audiences with the gross impact of globalization. The production explored the violent and unchecked reach of globalization through the perspective of diasporic Asian women. Chiang and King demonstrated Asian women’s influence on the global economy, provided a nuanced dramatization of diasporic Asian women, and highlighted Asian American theatre’s ongoing global turn. The play follows six Asian and Asian American female employees of Clearday, a Singaporean cosmetic company, as they furiously address a leaked skin whitening cream advertisement that uses blackface in a poor attempt at humor. This public relations nightmare becomes intertwined with their own interpersonal conflicts and cultural values. An online debate ensues about the ad’s level of offensiveness, which creates chaos among the women and illuminates the internalized misogyny, intra-racism, and anti-blackness found across Asian communities. King’s satirical commentary on global capitalism and the beauty industry (which she based on a racist 2016 ad for a skin whitening cream from a Thai cosmetic company) fills an important gap in Asian American theatre and is a much-needed contribution to Western theatre. Although King is not Asian American, her collaboration with an Asian American director invites critical discussions of Asian American theatre and its global trajectory. In 1993, Asian American director Roberta Uno stated that Asian American theatre has changed from a fine, nearly invisible thread to a sturdy one, stretching across the Pacific and acting as a dynamic cultural continuum. Asian American theatre scholars such as Josephine Lee and Daphne Lei have challenged the geocultural boundaries of the genre. Lee has analyzed Asian playwrights of Hawaii, many of whom do not identify as Asian American, while Lei has examined the work of Chinese American playwright David Henry Hwang in a transnational context. Scholars have questioned the productivity of exclusively using cultural and national boundaries to define Asian American theatre because it relegates it to an ethnic or minority theatre within American multiculturalism. The occasion of Studio Theatre’s White Pearl allows for a reevaluation of Asian American theatre’s development within the context of globalization, where there is more opportunity for actors and flexibility around representing Asian-identifying people. White Pearl extends the cultural continuum first established by Asian playwrights of Hawaii and the US mainland. Not only does King undercut assumptions of Asian homogeneity, but she also shows Asian and Asian American women as intermediaries of a Black/White paradigm. The collaboration between the Chinese American Chiang and Thai Australian King deepened this continuum by magnifying how Asian women exist in a troubling, liminal state between perpetrator and victim of racism and sexism. Click for larger view View full resolution Jody Doo (Sunny Lee), Diana Huey (Built Suttikul), Shanta Parasuraman (Priya Singh), and Resa Mishina (Ruki Minami) (l-r) in White Pearl. (Photo: Teresa Wood.) In this production, “Clearday” was projected onto a gray wall upstage and framed by a plexiglass double door. The projection signified the company’s pledge to “make skin clear and bright,” and the wall emphasized the women’s racial in-betweenness, positioning them in a moral gray area. This door acted as an insightful signpost, informing the audience that this pledge was present with every step they take. The set displayed the performers’ reflections and shadows, embedding them in the [End Page 347] building like phantoms. The office became their haunt, and a haunting reminder that Asian women have unconsciously become subject to ideology and are complicit in upholding whiteness as the ideal standard of beauty. Under Chiang’s direction, White Pearl highlighted the problematic inbetweeness of Asian women. Previously, Asian American plays like Julio Cho’s BFE and Diana Son’s R.A.W. have critiqued the racism underlying Western standards of beauty and cast Asian women as victims, but King shows Asian women as perpetrators and complex figures in a warped industry. Indian...

Self-use of skin-bleaching products among women attending a family medicine clinic: A cross-sectional study

Background: The use of skin-lightening creams is common and widespread in African, Asian, and North American colored no brown to dark. Use of skin-bleaching agents has been reported in Saudi Arabia. The long-term use of these products for several months to years may cause cutaneous or systemic side effects. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of self-use of skin-bleaching agents among Saudi women as well as the level of awareness, attitudes, and practice toward the use of these agents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by the selection of systematic random sampling of female attending the Family Medicine Clinic at Prince Mansour Military Hospital. The data collected by a structured questionnaire included information about background variables and attitudes, awareness, and practice regarding the use of skin-bleaching agents. The data were analyzed using statistical software to yield descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 358 women aged between 18 and 55 years were included in this study. Nearly 25% of the women were current users of skin-bleaching agents, while 39.6% were only previous users. About a third of women used bleaching creams in the treatment of hypo or hyperpigmented skin and 29.4% used them for cosmetic purposes. Regarding the source of these agents, 38% of women obtained them by medical prescription and 27.8% were from pharmacy without prescription. The reason for using skin-bleaching creams varied: 51.6% of females used creams to increase beauty, 51% for making a new look, 6% for increasing self-confidence, and 4.3% to increase the stability of marriage. Almost 56% of the women reported that cortisone is the most dangerous component in the skin-bleaching agents. Nearly 33% of the women reported being willing to use a quick whitening agent from an unknown source. Higher education and higher income were associated with greater use of skin-lightening creams. Conclusion: The lifetime use of skin-bleaching agents was relatively high, divided evenly on cosmetic and curative purposes. The level of awareness about these agents is low because a considerable proportion of respondents agreed to use agents from unknown sources, in addition to the high use of skin-bleaching agents obtained without medical or pharmacist consultation.

Comparative Analysis of Heavy Metals and Useful Components of Marine Resources with Potential Healing Properties

Purpose: Because of their unique biological and technological properties, the potential of marine resources in cosmetic applications is well recognized. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis to investigate the safety and quality of various potential marine resources for healing and clinical applications were collected from four regions in South Korea: Uljin, Goseong, Wando, and Taean. Methods: A total of seven types of potential marine resources for healing (peat, mud, sea sand, seaweed, black pine, saline ground water, and sea water) and nine types of marine resources for clinical applications (namely, peat, mud, sea mustard, laver, black pine, sea salt, oyster, oyster boiled water, and saline ground water). Following pre-treatment of samples, we used inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) to detect, chemically analyze, and quantify the concentrations of seven heavy metals and useful components (lead, arsenic, cadmium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium) in the marine samples.. Furthermore, a mercury analyzer was employed to detect and evaluate the concentration of mercury, a common ingredient used in skin lightening soaps and creams. Results: Results of the heavy metal analysis confirmed that marine resources for healing and for clinical applications conform to all safety standards of cosmetics at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Hence, they are suitable for cosmetic applications. However, the lead content of arsenic and peat resources in seaweed was found to be high. In addition, the results of this quality comparison analysis were found to be similar to the control experiments, despite the fact that minor differences were identified between each resource. More specifically, the lead content in peat was increased, whereas the potassium content was decreased. Conclusion: In this study, the comparative analysis of heavy metals and other useful components from four local marine healing resources demonstrated that these resources are both safe and suitable for healing applications. In the future, it is expected that marine resources for healing will be utilized throughout the marine industry through more continuous and systematic research, management and supervision of industries, universities, research institutes, and government policies.

Effects of Commercially Available Whitening Creams on the Epidermal Thickness of Guinea Pig Skin.

To determine the effects of commonly used commercial skin lightening creams on the thickness of epidermis of guinea pig skin. Animal experimental study. Department of Anatomy, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, from March to May 2015. Forty-eight adult, colored guinea pigs were used in this study. The animals were randomly divided into four groups. Group I was control group (no cream application). The animals of group II, III and IV were treated with skin whitening creams A, B and C respectively once daily, 6 days/week for eight weeks duration. The observations of skin specimens were made after 4 and 8 weeks for epidermal thickness at histological level. Microscopic examination showed variable degrees of epidermal thickening with the three creams applied for 4 weeks. The increase in thickness of epidermis ranged from 49.1 μm in control group to maximum of 106.4 μm in group ll. These effects were further intensified after 8 weeks application. The use of whitening creams caused skin damage by increasing the epidermal thickness of varying extent.

Tetrahydrocurcumin Inhibits α-MSH-induced Melanogenesis via GSK3β Activation in B16F10 Melanoma Cells

Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) has been used as a component of skin whitening cream. However, very little is known about the mechanisms for how THC regulates melanogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate mechanisms involved in the regulation of melanogenesis by THC using B16F10 murine melanoma cells. B16F10 cells were treated with various concentrations of THC (0–30 µg/mL) in the presence of 0.1 nM ±-melanocyte stimulating hormone (±-MSH). Total melanin content; intracellular tyrosinase activity; and levels of melanogenic proteins, i.e., microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1), and signaling proteins, i.e, Akt, glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), and β-catenin, were analyzed. Change in cell morphology was also observed. THC-Treatment caused a significant and dose-dependent decrease in total melanin content compared to control cells treated with α-MSH alone. At the early stage of melanogenesis, when melanin secretion was minimal, THC-treatment caused decreases in the activity of tyrosinase and the levels of tyrosinase and MITF proteins. Conversely, at the late stage of melanogenesis, when melanin secretion was evidently exhibited in control cells, remarkable increases in the intracellular levels of tyrosinase and TYRP1, the melanosomal proteins, were observed in THC-treated cells. THC-treatment caused decreases in Akt and GSK3β phosphorylation and β-catenin content. A significant alteration of cell morphology, i.e. elongation and loss of dendritic structure, was also observed. The present study demonstrated that THC-treatment inhibited α-MSH-induced melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells by downregulating MITF and tyrosinase proteins and decreasing tyrosinase activity. In addition, THC inhibited secretion of melanosomes, which appears to be associated with cell morphology alteration accompanying a loss of dendritic structure. THC caused decreases in the phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3β and the content of β-catenin, suggesting involvement of GSK3β activation and subsequent attenuation of β-catenin signaling in the anti-melanogenic effects of THC.

Efficiency of Skin Whitening Cream Containing Etlingera elatior Flower and Leaf Extracts in Volunteers

Our previous research demonstrated that Etlingera elatior possesses whitening and anti-aging properties and also contains bioactive ingredients for cosmeceuticals. Therefore, this research work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of whitening cream containing both the flower and leaf extracts of E. elatior in human volunteers and their degree of skin irritation. Both the flower and leaf extracts were formulated as a cosmetic called “FL1 cream”, which was assessed for its physical properties and underwent an accelerated stability test. The FL1 cream was also evaluated for skin irritation and its skin whitening effect among 24 healthy volunteers who used it for four weeks. The FL1 cream demonstrated good physical stability under the various conditions for three months, along with six cycles of heating/cooling. The irritation analysis showed that irritation reactions were absent in all volunteers. The efficiency of FL1 cream in improving the appearance of skin whitening was demonstrated by a significant (p < 0.05) and continuous decrease in melanin content compared with the initial value. Additionally, the L* value was significantly and continuously increased after application of the FL1 cream. The highest melanin reduction was 6.67%. The FL1 cream containing E. elatior extracts can be used as a whitening cream in cosmetics.

Levels of Toxic Metals in Skin Lightening Agents Marketed in Nigeria

Background: Bleaching agents produced by registered companies in developed countries have regulated concentrations. But various local skin lightening agents produced in Africa, especially Nigeria have no identified active agent. This study determined the levels of potentially toxic heavy metals constituents of bleaching agents commonly used by Nigerians. Methods: Twelve different types of skin lightening creams (Extra white, Make me white, Extract, Perfect white, UV lightening, Pure skin, Body treat, Dodo up, Bronze tone, White express, Peau Claire and Otentika) available Nigerian markets were randomly collected based on their usage and availability. Three non- lightening creams served as the controls for this study. Levels of mercury, lead, cadmium, chromium and arsenic were determined in both lightening and non- lightening creams (controls) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Results: All lightening creams 12/12 (100%) contained significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of mercury compared with the control. 11/12 (91.7%) of the lightening creams contained significantly (p>0.05) higher levels of lead compared with the control. Levels of arsenic were significantly (p<0.05) higher in 11/12 (91.7%) of the lightening creams compared with control. Levels of cadmium increase significantly (p<0.05) in 4/12 (22.92%) of the lightening creams compared with the control. 4/12 (22.92%) of the lightening creams contained significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of chromium compared with control.

852 Racial differences in adolescent perceptions of skin color and tone: A questionnaire and colorimetric-based cross-sectional study

Adolescents receive pressure from peers and social media to conform to perceived acceptable standards regarding skin tone. These pressures put them at an increased risk of engaging in unhealthy behaviors to achieve these standards. Thus, we aimed to better understand adolescent attitudes on skin tone in comparison to objective colorimetric data. Fifty patients were recruited from the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Dermatology clinic between the ages of 12-19. Adolescents were asked to fill out a survey on their sunscreen, tanning bed, and skin lightening cream use. They were then given the Pantone Skin Color Guide, consisting of 110 skin color palettes and reported their perceived and desired skin tones. The surveyor then used the standardized Pantone Capsure device, which includes all 110 skin colors for image capture to record the subject’s objective skin tone from the left dorsal hand and also included an internal control. Descriptive statistics, Fisher’s Exact Tests, and ANOVA subgroup analysis were performed. A total of 28.3% of individuals self-reported as black, 17.4% east asian, 39.1% white, and 15.2% of other races with a median Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV. Overall, 20% of adolescents felt pressure to have tan skin, and reported this pressure began at an average age of 12. The overwhelming majority of adolescents (nearly 96%) did not report wearing sunscreen on a daily basis. Only one adolescent reported using skin lightening creams but three patients reported use by family members. Black and asian participants were significantly more likely to desire a lighter skin tone than their perceived tone, while white participants were more likely to desire a darker skin tone (p<0.011). These findings suggest both sun exposure and skin bleaching safety initiatives should target pre-pubertal patients before they engage in risky behaviors aimed at achieving their desired skin tone.

Immunoglobulin levels in maternal blood, cord blood and breast milk of Nigerian pregnant women using hydroquinone and non-hydroquinone containing skin lightening creams

Immunoglobulin levels in maternal blood, cord blood and breast milk of Nigerian pregnant women using hydroquinone and non-hydroquinone containing skin lightening creams

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF ALPHA ARBUTIN SKIN LIGHTENING CREAM USING POLYACRYLATE BASE BY COLD PROCESS

Objective: The objective of this research was to formulate and evaluate alpha arbutin skin lightening cream using polyacrylate base by cold process.Methods: Five formulas of alpha arbutin skin lightening cream were prepared with Polyacrylate Base with different polyacrylate concentrations as a cream base for each formula. The various concentrations of polyacrylate (2, 3, 4, 5, and 6%) was used as a cream base. The resulting preparation was then examined and observed for consistency, color, odor, and stability for 28 d of storage.Results: The phase separation test results stated that the five cream formulas did not experience phase separation in 2500, 3000, and 3750 rpm centrifugations so that it could be concluded that the five cream formulas were stable in storage at room temperature for at least 12 mo. From the physical evaluation of cream preparations, it was found that the cream formula with 6% polyacrylate concentration gave the best stability results. Cream safety testing results stated that the cream did not irritate the skin of the wearer.Conclusion: The results obtained in this research work clearly indicated alpha arbutin cream can be formulated using polyacrylate as a cream base, and in its manufacture, it can be carried out with a cold process.

A case of ochronosis successfully treated with the picosecond laser.

Exogenous ochronosis is a cutaneous condition characterized by blue-black pigmentation resulting as a complication of long-term application of skin-lightening creams containing hydroquinone and other substances such as quinine, phenol and mercury derivatives. We report a case of a 55-year-old woman who developed exogenous ochronosis as a result of prolonged use of topical hydroquinone for 5years, characterized by greyish hyperpigmented patches on the nose and cheeks. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically. Treatment with picosecond laser resulted in marked clinical improvement together with improvement in overall texture and quality of the skin.

In Vitro Enzyme Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity Test on Liquorice Root Extract Cream (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.)

Liquorice root extract (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) contains glabridin, an isoflavone substance that has the ability to inhibit the oxidation of L-tyrosin and L-DOPA in the formation of melanin, therefore it can be used as skin whitening. The aim of the study was to determine the potential of the best skin whitening cream using positive control of kojic acid. Formulated 1 blank formula, 3 cream formulas using various concentrations of ethanol extract 70% liquorice roots of (0.01, 0.11, 1.01)% based on the value of tyrosinase inhibition activity in vitro from extracts of (50, 75, 100)%. Spectrophotometric method is used to measure the absorption of dopacrome by a microplate reader which was incubated at 37°C at λ 490 nm for 20 minutes. Oil in water cream was prepared by mixing extract with cream base at a temperature of 70-75°C at a speed of 400 rpm for 25 minutes. Stability test was carried out for 4 weeks at room temperature storage and a temperature of 40°C, evaluated for physical quality. The results of determination of IC50 of kojic acid was 20.88 µg / mL; IC50 of extract variation were (126.75; 1130.90; and 10092.41) µg / mL respectively. Cream has milky white-yellowish color; smell of flowers; soft texture; homogeneous; there is no separation; has type M/A; plastic thixotropic flow properties; has an increasing value including viscosity, spreadability, globule size, and pH, which are respectively (455000-620000)cPs, (2695.82-3545.83)mm2, (54.66-66.27)μm , and (4.44-5.04); tyrosinase inhibition activity in formula 1, 2 and 3 were stored at weeks 0, 2nd and 4th were respectively (1.78; -25.74; 22.04)%, (6.74; 6, 12; 4.49)%, and (-28.78; 53.06; 20.32)%. It can be concluded that the cream formula containing liquorice root extract with a concentration of 1.01% is the best formula so it can be used as skin whitening.

Exposure of Inorganic Mercury in the General Population and Ethnic Minorities in New York City and Its Associations with Skin Lightening Practice

Skin lightening practice (SLP) was identified as a source of inorganic mercury exposure among Caribbean-born blacks and Dominicans, who had geometric mean urine mercury concentration ([GMuHg]) &amp;#8805;1 ng/ml compared to 0.69 ng/ml among the general population in the 2004 New York City Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES). We assessed such a pattern using the 2013-2014 HANES (n&amp;#61;1408), which also asked about the usage of skin lightening cream in the past 30 days. In addition, we present the preliminary results from a pilot study on SLP among NYC women of African and Afro-Caribbean ancestries (n&amp;#61;74) who have been bleaching their skin for a year.The population-weighted SLP prevalence was 5.5% overall and 8.1% among the Caribbean population (n&amp;#61;355). The overall [GMuHg] and its 95th percentile was 0.37 and 1.7 ng/ml, similar to the levels found among subgroups such as participants with SLP, the Caribbean population, or the Caribbean participants with SLP. Among those with SLP (n&amp;#61;75), 70% were female, 37% were Hispanic, 36% were Caribbean, and their [uHg] ranged from 0.063 ng/ml to 11ng/ml. Significant factors (p&amp;lt;0.05) associated with [uHg] were being non-US born, higher family income (&amp;#8805;$100,000), having silver-colored dental fillings and frequent fish or shellfish consumption (&amp;#8805;3 times in the past 30 days). In our pilot study, 81% participants were non-US born, about 50% from Jamaica or the Ivory Coast, 89% reported more than 3 years of SLP, 77% used daily, and 12% used while pregnant/breastfeeding.We observed an overall decrease in the population level [GMuHg] in NYC compared to the previous study, and did not find elevated [GMuHg] among the Caribbean or SLP population. Our SLP-focused pilot study showed that SLP is a habitual practice, and the existence of prenatal and postnatal exposures related to SLP may warrant further investigation especially among vulnerable subgroups (e.g., Jamaicans and West Africans) where SLP is more prevalent.

Clinical Profile and Allergens in Pigmented Cosmetic Dermatitis and Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Cosmetics in India.

Pigmented cosmetic dermatitis (PCD) is frequently encountered in dark-skinned individuals as gradual hyperpigmentation on the face without preceding erythema or itching. Little is known about the allergen profile in PCD. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical profile and common allergens in PCD and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to cosmetics in Delhi. Records of patients suspected of PCD and ACD to cosmetics were analyzed. All patients were patch tested with the Indian standard series, Indian cosmetic and fragrance series, and personal cosmetics and, in relevant cases, hairdresser series. One hundred six patients were analyzed. Patch test was positive in 77 cases (72.6%). Cetrimonium, gallate mix, thiomerosal, and skin lightening creams were more frequently positive in cases of PCD (P = 0.019-0.003), whereas p-phenylenediamine, toluene-2,5 diamine sulfate, p-aminophenol, m-aminophenol, and nitro-p-phenylenediamine were predominantly positive in ACD to cosmetics (P < 0.001). Preservatives, antioxidants, and skin lightening creams seem to play a role in causation of PCD, whereas hair dye allergens cause ACD to cosmetics in India.

Tracking Declines in Mercury Exposure in the New York City Adult Population, 2004\u20132014

Mercury is a toxic metal that can be measured in human blood and urine. Population-based biomonitoring from 2004 guided New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) efforts to reduce exposures by educating the public about risks and benefits of fish consumption—a predominant source of exposure in the general population—and removing mercury-containing skin-lightening creams and other consumer products from the marketplace. We describe changes in exposures over the past decade in relation to these local public health actions and in the context of national changes by comparing mercury concentrations measured in blood (1201 specimens) and urine (1408 specimens) from the NYC Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES) 2013–2014 with measurements from NYC HANES 2004 and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2003–2004 and 2013–2014. We found that NYC adult blood and urine geometric mean mercury concentrations decreased 46% and 45%, respectively. Adult New Yorkers with blood mercury concentration ≥ 5 μg/L (the New York State reportable level) declined from 24.8% (95% CL = 22.2%, 27.7%) to 12.0% (95% CL = 10.1%, 14.3%). The decline in blood mercury in NYC was greater than the national decline, while the decline in urine mercury was similar. As in 2004, Asian New Yorkers had higher blood mercury concentrations than other racial/ethnic groups. Foreign-born adults of East or Southeast Asian origin had the highest prevalence of reportable levels (29.7%; 95% CL = 21.0%, 40.1%) across sociodemographic groups, and Asians generally were the most frequent fish consumers, eating on average 11 fish meals in the past month compared with 7 among other groups (p < 0.001). Fish consumption patterns were similar over time, and fish continues to be consumed more frequently in NYC than nationwide (24.7% of NYC adults ate fish ten or more times in the past 30 days vs. 14.7% nationally, p < 0.001). The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that blood mercury levels have declined in part because of local and national efforts to promote consumption of lower mercury fish. Local NYC efforts may have accelerated the reduction in exposure. Having “silver-colored fillings” on five or more teeth was associated with the highest 95th percentile for urine mercury (4.06 μg/L; 95% CL = 3.1, 5.9). An estimated 5.5% of the adult population (95% CL = 4.3%, 7.0%) reported using a skin-lightening cream in the past 30 days, but there was little evidence that use was associated with elevated urine mercury in 2013–14.

Use of skin lightening creams among female University students in Zimbabwe: a preliminary survey

Objective: To explore the prevalence and beliefs around use of skin lighteners among female university students at the University of Zimbabwe.&#x0D; Methods and Materials: We conducted a descriptive cross sectional survey to ascertain the prevalence and correlates of use of skin lightening creams among a sample of 138 female university students (mean age 22years, SD=1.73) who responded to self-administered questionnaires.&#x0D; Results: Prevalence of use of skin lightening creams among the respondents was 20%. Most of the women (83.3%) preferred lighter skin tone, and 93.3% perceived light skin as a symbol of beauty, 65% as a sign of wealth and 23.3% as symbolizing power.&#x0D; Conclusions: Results from this survey provide a preliminary evidential entry point for health promotion interventions in a potentially influential subgroup of society.