Skin-lightening Products Research Articles

Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional survey

BackgroundDespite warnings about its harmful adverse effects and the implementation of regulatory bans, anecdotal reports suggest high use of skin-lightening agents in Kumasi, Ghana.ObjectiveTo estimate the prevalence and motivation for skin-lightening agent use and nonuse among shoppers in Kumasi, Ghana.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of shoppers in 3 of Kumasi's largest markets.ResultsOf the 350 shoppers who were approached, 334 consented, for a response rate of 95%. Data were analyzed on 331 completed surveys. A total of 40.4% of individuals reported current or past use of skin-lightening products, and 26.6% of men reported history of product use compared with 56.5% of women. Female sex was significantly associated with skin-lightening product use (odds ratio 3.59; 95% confidence interval 2.26-5.70). Users of skin-lightening agents were more likely to agree with statements that associated lighter skin with beauty, self-esteem, attractiveness, and wealth.LimitationsUsing a nonrandomized convenience sampling method on a single city limits the generalizability of the results. Response, recall, and social desirability biases may have skewed the results, especially given the stigma associated with skin-lightening agent use.ConclusionThe practice of skin lightening among all participants is high and is associated with perceptions of increased beauty, attractiveness, self-esteem, and wealth.

Natural products with skin - Whitening effects

UV radiation is widely considered as a major cause of skin pigmentation. Upon exposure to UV radiation, the melanocytes increase the production of intracellular nitric oxide, which triggers signal transduction cascades to initiate melanogenesis by tyrosinase. UV radiation also influences melanogenesis through a paracrine regulation process involving the keratinocytes. Although a number of hypopigmenting products have been developed, those from natural sources are preferred and will predominate in the cosmetics market. More active compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, coumarins and other derivatives have been identified from natural sources. This article summarized natural skin whitening products involving tyrosinase blockers like phenols and polyphenols, and non-tyrosinase blockers like α-MSH, melanosome transferase and cytokine inhibitors. In addition, the skin-whitening effects and the mechanisms of these natural products were also reviewed. Most of the compounds achieve the hypopigmenting effect by inhibiting tyrosinase; however, some interesting compounds blocking the upstream regulation points of melanogenesis are extraordinarily promising for developing novel whitening agents.

694 An epidermal model containing melanocytes for skin pigmentation and lightening studies

Considerable interest exists in evaluating raw materials and/or skin care formulations which cause lightening of the skin. These products are utilized to modulate one’s natural skin color or to combat skin pigmentation disorders such as melasma, dark spots, solar lentigo, and other hyperpigmentation lesions. To aid in the development and testing of such products, we have developed a skin whitening protocol using the epidermal skin model, MelanoDerm™, to evaluate both raw materials and skin lightening formulations. MelanoDerm is a highly differentiated, three-dimensional tissue culture model of human epidermis that contains normal human melanocytes (NHM) and keratinocytes (NHK). Epidermal tissues have been produced containing NHM of varying skin phototypes which follow the pigmentation level of the donor tissue, i.e. black > Asian > Caucasian. For lightening studies, tissues were treated topically three times a week over a two to three week period to mimic consumer application. Several over-the-counter skin lightening products were evaluated in cultures containing NHM from black and Asian donors. Over the treatment period, negative control cultures became increasingly pigmented with retention of normal epithelial morphology. In contrast, tissues treated topically with cosmetic skin lightening agents containing tyrosinase inhibitors such as kojic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate remained lighter than the control cultures. The skin lightening effect on treated tissues was quantitatively evaluated for melanin content using a Solvable melanin assay and for skin brightness (L* value) using a hand-held spectrometer. Treated tissues showed significant changes in overall melanin content and brightness compared to control tissues. These results suggest that this model can provide valuable in vitro data for screening raw materials prior to the commencement of costly clinical trials and that it will be useful to study melanogenesis, skin lightening, and other pigmentation phenomena of the skin.

New topical tranexamic acid derivative for the improvement of hyperpigmentation and inflammation in the sun-damaged skin.

Skin-lightening products are used worldwide to treat persistent pigmentation disorders that impact our quality of life and self-confidence. However, consumers of cosmetic and over-the-counter skin lighteners struggle to find products that perform to their expectations. New, safe, and effective bioactives are needed to fill this gap. To investigate the safety and skin-lightening performance of a new topical tranexamic acid derivative, that is, cetyl tranexamate mesylate. The test material was a facial serum containing 2.0% (w/w) of the new bioactive. Safety was evaluated by a modified Human Repeat Insult Patch Test with 54 subjects of either sex. Performance was objectively assessed based on the improvement of melanin and erythema indexes through time, and also subjectively by photographs and self-perception questionnaires. Thirty-five female subjects applied the serum twice a day for 8weeks. No questionable adverse reactions were observed. Melanin and erythema indexes improved significantly and continuously from the baseline to the end of the study (-16.9% and -34.3%, respectively). Photographs further support instrumental data. On average, after 2weeks, the subjects already noticed an improvement in skin tone (79.3%), a reduction in dark spots (78.6%), and an improvement in facial redness (77.1%). A topical serum containing cetyl tranexamate mesylate was well-tolerated and successfully improved the overall facial skin tone, as well as the appearance of dark spots and redness.

Darker shades of “fairness” in India: Male attractiveness and colorism in commercials

AbstractThe skin-lightening products for men in India and their mode of advertising have been shaping the concept of attractiveness for Indian men by portraying lighter skin tone as the most fundamental quality of being attractive, always desirable, and successful. Although women’s skin-lightening products in India have received attention by a few scholars lately, men’s products are still underresearched. Hence, this study aims to investigate the issue of colorism augmented by television commercials for men’s “fairness” (light skin tone) products in India. The primary data for this study are six Hindi television commercials for men’s skin-lightening products which were broadcast from 2005 to 2015 and were available on YouTube during data collection. The commercials are by one popular brand, Emami Fair and Handsome. The target commercials are significant for their categorical distinction in directness as well as for their nature of storytelling that helps facilitate the discourse of colorism itself. The methodology is a combination of multimodal analysis, critical discourse analysis, and advertisement analysis. The overall goal of this study is to bring visibility to this subtle and multilayered problem of colorism in Indian society which is being reinforced by the skin-lightening products for men.

Depigmenting potential of lichen extracts evaluated by in vitro and in vivo tests.

Melanin is the main pigment of human skin, playing the primary role of protection from ultraviolet radiation. Alteration of the melanin production may lead to hyperpigmentation diseases, with both aesthetic and health consequences. Thus, suppressors of melanogenesis are considered useful tools for medical and cosmetic treatments. A great interest is focused on natural sources, aimed at finding safe and quantitatively available depigmenting substances. Lichens are thought to be possible sources of this kind of compounds, as the occurrence of many phenolic molecules suggests possible effects on phenolase enzymes involved in melanin synthesis, like tyrosinase. In this work, we used four lichen species, Cetraria islandica Ach., Flavoparmelia caperata Hale, Letharia vulpina (L.) Hue, and Parmotrema perlatum (Hudson) M. Choisy, to obtain extracts in solvents of increasing polarity, viz. chloroform, chloroform-methanol, methanol, and water. Cell-free, tyrosinase inhibition experiments showed highest inhibition for L. vulpina methanol extract, followed by C. islandica chloroform-methanol one. Comparable results for depigmenting activities were observed by means of in vitro and in vivo systems, such as MeWo melanoma cells and zebrafish larvae. Our study provides first evidence of depigmenting effects of lichen extracts, from tyrosinase inhibition to cell and in vivo models, suggesting that L. vulpina and C. islandica extracts deserve to be further studied for developing skin-whitening products.

Clinical management of chronic mercury intoxication secondary to skin lightening products: A proposed algorithm.

Mercury is a toxic substance that is commonly used in skin lightening products. Various effects on humans have been observed, which affect both users and non-users. Many studies reported delayed diagnosis and treatment, even after weeks of hospitalization. The possible reasons are non-specific clinical manifestation and lack of awareness and knowledge regarding chronic mercury intoxication secondary to skin lightening products. A thorough history of mercury exposure is crucial. Physical assessment and relevant supporting tests are indicated to establish a diagnosis. Blood and urine mercury levels are an essential examination for diagnosis and monitoring of the progress and response to treatment. The primary treatment is the discontinuation of the skin lightening products. Chelation therapy is not mandatory and is usually indicated for symptomatic patients. The prognosis depends on the duration of the product use, concentration of mercury in the skin product, and the severity of clinical presentation.

Mercury Exposure Associated with Use of Skin Lightening Products in Jamaica.

Background.Skin bleaching is a major health concern among Jamaicans. A common ingredient in skin lightening products is mercury. Mercury is a toxic substance that can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system and kidneys.Objective.The objectives of this study were to use different analytical techniques to measure mercury concentrations in popular skin lightening products used in Jamaica and to assess individual levels of mercury exposure based on product usage.Methods.Sixty skin lightening products were purchased from different vendors across various locations in Jamaica. Each product was initially screened for mercury using a portable handheld energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. In addition, 25 out of 60 products were further measured using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS). Questionnaires were distributed to users of skin lightening products to determine their usage patterns.Results.Six products had mercury concentrations above the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowable limit of 1 ppm, of which three products contained alarmingly high concentrations (i.e. > 400 ppm). The majority of products (57 out of 60) had mercury concentrations below 10 ppm. The mercury concentrations in skin lightening products ranged from 0.05 ppm to 17,547 ppm. In our sample, 51% of women and 49% of men used skin products more than once per day.Conclusions.On average, creams contained more mercury than lotions and soaps. Individuals who use skin lightening products in Jamaica may be at risk for high mercury exposure, as some popular products were found to have mercury concentrations above the allowable limit.Competing Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Inhibition of Tyrosinase by Mercury Chloride: Spectroscopic and Docking Studies.

Inorganic mercury compounds have been used in skin-lightening products since ancient times. Although a previous study demonstrated that mercury impeded the transfer of Cu2+ to the apotyrosinase, the effect of mercury on tyrosinase is still unclear. In the present study, the mechanism of mercury chloride (HgCl2) induced inactivation of tyrosinase was investigated for the first time. The IC50 values were 29.97 and 77.93 μmol/L for monophenolase and diphenolase, respectively. A kinetic analysis revealed that HgCl2 inhibited tyrosinase activity in an irreversible non-competitive manner. The strong intrinsic fluorescence quenching suggested that the formation of the HgCl2-tyrosinase complex induced conformational changes of the enzyme, and HgCl2 had only one single binding site or a single class of binding site on tyrosinase. The molecular docking and further experiments demonstrated that HgCl2 bound to the amino residuals (His) in the catalytic center of tyrosinase. To our knowledge, these findings presented in this paper were the first evidence of the direct interactions between HgCl2 and tyrosinase, which provided a deep understanding of the inhibition mechanism of mercury on tyrosinase.

Plant-based skin lightening agents: A review

Hyperpigmentation is a skin disorder that occurs widely in the human population in which darkened patches or spots appear on the skin. Cosmetic products containing natural skin lightening agents are regarded as a safe alternative and effective approach to this hyperpigmentation problem. The review paper aims to discuss on some potential plant species with skin lightening properties by focusing on the presence of responsible bioactive compounds and their specific mechanisms of action in minimizing melanin production in hyperpigmentation problem. The finding shows that different bioactive compounds have various modes of action on melanin biosynthesis pathway including tyrosinase inhibition, melanosomes transfer inhibition, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Some plants with skin lightening activity contain several bioactive compounds which contribute to an enhancement of skin lightening effects and inhibition of hyperpigmentation. In conclusion, the screening of potential skin lightening ingredients from natural sources is very crucial process before formulation development for an effective skin lightening product.

Facts, Traditions, and Complications of Skin Whitening Products among Female Students in Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

The increased use of skin whitening products serves as a significant challenge for the health care unit. The progressive use of the whitening products exposes individuals to various risk factors and skin-related complications. This study aims to determine the usage of skin-whitening products among female students at Ibn Sina University, Sudan. It further intends to assess the complications and risk factors that may emerge due to the increased use of skin whitening products. It used a descriptive cross-sectional design following a questionnaire-based survey approach. The data was collected from 138 females (age 17 to 25 years), which was statistically analyzed. The results revealed that 47.4% of the population used skin-whitening products, where 58.8% were aged 20-22 years. It revealed a significant association of marital status (p-value, 0.010) and belief (p-value, 0.001) with the use of skin whitening products. It concludes that increased usage of skin-whitening products leads to the occurrence of various complications. It stresses introducing educational and preventive programs to mitigate the use of harmful products.

Influence of Social Cultural Capital and Marketing on Skin Whitening Products Use among Higher Education Female Students in the Northeast of Thailand

Influence of Social Cultural Capital and Marketing on Skin Whitening Products Use among Higher Education Female Students in the Northeast of Thailand

Angelicosides I-IV, four undescribed furanocoumarin glycosides from Angelica dahurica roots and their tyrosinase inhibitory activities

Angelica dahurica is an important medicinal plant, which has been widely used in medicines and skin-whitening products. In the investigation of phytochemicals present in A. dahurica roots, three unusual furanocoumarin rhamnosides, angelicosides I–III (1–3), one undescribed furanocoumarin glucoside, angelicoside IV (4), together with eight known compounds (5–12) were isolated. Their structures were characterized by a combination of UV, IR, NMR, HRESIMS, along with acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis. All the isolated compounds were tested for their mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activities, and compounds 1, 2, and 11 showed moderate activities.

Influence of Social Cultural Capital and Marketing on Skin Whitening Products Use among Higher Education Female Students in the Northeast of Thailand

Introduction: There have been increasing trends of skin whitening products use globally. Social cultural capital has been identified as one of a significant determinants of skin whitening products use. However, there was no study on these issues in Thailand. Therefore, this study aimed to identify skin whitening products use situation and the association between social cultural capital, marketing, and skin whitening products use among female higher education students in the Northeast of Thailand. Method and Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Northeast of Thailand among 1,143 female higher education students. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) was used to identify the associations between social cultural capital, marketing and skin whitening products use when controlling other covariates. Results: Most of the respondents ever used skin whitening products (84.95%: 95%CI: 82.88–87.03), of which 52.66% (95%CI: 49.77–55.57) were current users, and 17.41% (95%CI: 15.21–19.61) were inappropriate use. The social cultural capital factor that were associated with skin whitening products use were those who were not satisfied with skin colors (Adj. OR=3.48; 95%CI=2.18–5.55; p<0.001), had friends using skin whitening products (Adj. OR=2.63; 95%CI=1.71–4.04; p<0.001, had thin to normal figures (Adj. OR=2.53; 95%CI=1.54–4.15; p<0.001), and had family members using skin whitening products (Adj. OR=1.86; 95%CI=1.10–3.15; p=0.020), studied in humanities and social sciences (Adj. OR=2.07; 95%CI=1.25–3.45; p=0.005) and product marketing (Adj. OR=1.92; 95%CI=1.15–3.20; p=0.012). Moreover, other factors that were also associated with skin whitening products use were family monthly income. Conclusion: Majority of the higher education female students were current skin whitening products users of which about one-sixth was inappropriate users. Both social cultural capital, marketing had influence on skin whitening products use.

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.

The impacts of neo-liberalism on public health: A case study of skin bleaching among women living in Zimbabwe

Main Objective: To find out the impacts of free markets on public health using skin bleaching among the women living in Zimbabwe as a case study.&#x0D; Materials and methods: The study was designed as a case study which used a combined methodology facilitated by a cross sectional online survey among 270 women living in Zimbabwe and key informant interviews among 10 cosmetic sellers in Zimbabwe.&#x0D; Results: All the key informants reported to be selling skin lightening cosmetics amongst their cosmetics, some of these cosmetics reported being illegal. All skin lightening products were reported to be hoarded outside Zimbabwe. Corruption and relaxed policies on cosmetic regulation were suggested to be enabling entry of some of the illegal and potentially harmful products in the country. The prevalence of skin bleaching among the participants was 31.15% and most of the participants (61.40%) were ignorant about skin bleaching cosmetics' side effects.&#x0D; Conclusion: Results from the study imply neoliberalism could be promoting a high influx of harmful skin bleaching cosmetics in the Zimbabwean market putting a considerably high number of women who bleach their skin at risk andtherefore having a negative impact on public health. Targeted health education i.e. on skin bleaching, regulatory public health policies and their enforcement can play an important role in controlling access and subsequently curbing thedetrimental effects of skin bleaching products and improve the health of the public.

Flow Injection–Indirect Spectrophotometry for Hydroquinone Analysis Based on the Formation of Iron(II)-Phenanthroline Complex

Hydroquinone is an organic antioxidant widely used for skin lightening products which can cause negative impact in excessive use. This study is focused on the development of fast method for the determination of hydroquinone using flow injection-indirect spectrophotometry based on the formation of red complex iron(II)-phenanthroline. In this method, hydroquinone reduced iron(III) to iron(II) which in the presence of phenanthroline formed iron(II)-phenanthroline complex detected at maximum wavelength of 510 nm. The common operational and chemical conditions were optimized and the effect of several interfering compounds was also studied to achieve the highest sensitivity with acceptable analysis time. The optimum method performance was obtained under the conditions of 100 µL sample volume, 50 cm mixing coil-1and 75 cm mixing coil-2, 5 ml/min flow rate, 100 mgL-1 Iron(III) concentration, and 0.15 % phenanthroline. Under these conditions the proposed FI-spectrophotometry gave results to linear calibration over the concentration range from 2-100 mgL-1 (y = 0.028x and R2 of 0.999). The method was not interfered in the presence of vitamin C 1 mgL-1 and resorcinol up to 10 mgL-1. However, the higher concentration of vitamin C ≥10 ppm and resorcinol ≥ 20 ppm gave significant error of measurements. Method validation using standard additions gave results to average recovery value of 97.02 %, which indicates that the FI-spectrophotometry method can be used as an alternative method for determining hydroquinone in cosmetic.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception on skin whitening practice among UniKL students in Malaysia

Skin whitening product has been in demand by all levels of the community as lighter skin has been described as the main element of beauty. However, many consumers are not well aware of the skin whitening agent that are allowed and safe to be consumed. Therefore, we would like to study on UniKL students' knowledge, attitude, and perception on skin whitening practice. Random sampling method is used to collect our data. 56.0% (N = 215) of the respondents are able to classify correctly half or more of the substances that are banned by the Ministry of Health to be used as a whitening agents such as Hydroquinone, Mercury, Tretinoin and Azelaic Acid given. Half of the respondents have used or are currently using skin whitening products and believe that "Lighter skin increases one's self-esteem." We found that there is a significant correlation between the background of the study with their knowledge on skin and skin whitening products. The correlation between the allowances they received monthly, and the amount that they will spend on these products is insignificant. More female students use skin whitening products compared to male students. 44.7% (N = 88) of the respondents claim to notice improvement on their skin after consuming these products, and some claim to have experienced side effects such as acne, redness, and irritation.

Analisa Kualitatif Kandungan Merkuri dalam Sediaan Pemutih Kulit yang Dijual di Online Shop

Background: Mercury (Hg) is used illegally in cosmetics as a whitening or skin lightening agent because of its ability to inhibit melanin formation on the surface of the skin. Mercury can make white skin smooth in a relatively short time, but this substance has a negative effect on health because it can accumulate in the body. This is because mercury that enters the human body is not easily excreted. This mercury can accumulate in the human body especially in the kidney, liver and brain organs.Objective: This study is aimed to find out whether mercury is sold in skin whitening product by Online Shop.Methods: This research was a descriptive study by using the color reaction test method. The samples in this study were 6 samples taken from the Online Shop. The sampling technique in this study used a purposive sampling technique. The procedure of the color reaction test was the sample is weighed 2 grams and then added 25 ml of mineral water and 10 ml of mineral water, then evaporated until it was almost dry. At the last evaporation added 10 ml mineral water. Then it was heated for a while, cooled and filtered. The next step on Potassium Iodide was 0.5 N 1 ml of sample solution put into a test tube and then add 2 drops of Potassium Iodide slowly through the tube wall, if there was a change in the color of orange with precipitate, then the positive reaction contains mercury.Results: This study showed that the six samples of non-facial skin whitening products which is sold in the Online Shop obtained three positive samples containing mercury, due to an orange discoloration with sediment and three samples containing negative mercury.Conclusion: There were three positive samples containing mercury marked by an orange discoloration in skin whitening purchased by Online Shop.Keywords: Mercury, Skin whitening products, Color reactions.

Skin lightening practices, beliefs, and self-reported adverse effects among female health science students in Borama, Somaliland: A cross-sectional survey.

BackgroundSkin-lightening (SL) products are common, especially in Africa. Adverse effects from these products represent a public health concern. Use of these products in Somaliland is unknown.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of use of SL products among female health science students, beliefs about these products and practices, and adverse effects experienced.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of female health science students at Amoud University in Borama, Somaliland.ResultsOf the 400 students who were invited to participate, 265 completed the survey (response rate: 66%). Mean participant age was 21.1 years (standard deviation: 2.0 years). The majority of students were single (91.2%) with a Fitzpatrick skin type of 3 or darker (94.2%). Past or present use of SL products was reported by 25.6% of participants, and 52.2% admitted to current use. Compared with non-users, more SL product users agreed that lighter skin color gives a woman more confidence, helps a woman have better job opportunities, and increases chances of getting married. They also agreed that advertisements on television for SL products influence a women’s preference for a lighter skin tone (p < .05). More than 60% of participants were unsure what active ingredients were in their SL products. Only 9% denied any undesirable adverse effects, and the remainder reported an array of local and systemic adverse effects. The vast majority realize that SL products may cause undesirable local (92%) and systemic (89%) adverse effects.LimitationsGeneralizability is limited because a nonrandomized convenience sample from one university was studied. Response bias also may have skewed results.ConclusionUse of SL products among female health science students in Somaliland is common, and causes cutaneous and systemic adverse reactions. Use appears influenced by beliefs about the benefits of lighter skin color. Education is needed on the proper use of these products, how to avoid harmful products, and how to prevent complications.