Skin lightening: causes and complications

Abstract

Skin bleaching, also known as skin lightening, is the deliberate lightening of an individual's skin tone without medical supervision. The causes are complex, multifactorial and often intertwined, although the unifying themes centre around a belief that lighter skin denotes an individual of higher status, socioeconomic background or physical beauty, than their darker-skinned counterpart. Skin lightening is achieved using agents that block the production of melanin and often contain drugs such as hydroquinone, superpotent topical steroids or mercury. These drugs can cause serious local and systemic complication. Skin-lightening compounds are illegal in most countries throughout the world; however the industry is worth billions of dollars annually, and the agents can be easily obtained by individuals seeking to lighten their skin. Dermatologists are in a unique position to identify those at risk of using skin-bleaching agents, manage complications and give advice on the physiological variation in pigmentation and how to avoid using skin-lightening agents to treat dermatological conditions. To manage the belief that lighter skin is better, societal level change is required to ensure that people of all skin tones are represented in the media.

Factors determining the occurrence of hyperglycemia in women practicing voluntary depigmentation in four hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon

“…this phenomenon is called differently depending on the country; it is called "xeesal" in Senegal, "tcha tcho" in Mali, "kwanza" in Gabon or "ndjansang" in Cameroon. It is a practice with real dangers [6][7][8]. In some countries, light skin is the ideal of beauty; VD offers a relatively quick and inexpensive solution, with, however, underestimated complications [9][10][11].…”

“…Among systemic complications we have hypertension, obesity, diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, hypercorticism, neurological disorders and nephropathy etc. [6,7,[12][13][14][15]. In sub-Saharan Africa, researchers have been interested on the systemic complications of VD.…”

Uncovering the roots of skin bleaching: Colorism and its detrimental effects

“…Skin bleaching, a multi‐billion dollar industry, 1 , 2 is a growing global public health issue that poses significant risks to consumers and presents dermatologists with challenges. Shah et al 1 recently addressed this topic, uncovering the variety of skin‐lightening practices and misinformation that pervades social media.…”

“… 4 , 5 Colorism in India is rooted in British colonial rule and perpetuated by the caste system, where lighter skinned individuals were afforded greater privilege, education, and opportunities. 2 , 4 In many African countries, colonialism promoted Eurocentric beauty ideals. Even in Europe, pale white skin was sought after until the mid‐20th century as it signified someone with wealth and status who did not have to labor in the sun.…”

“…Even in Europe, pale white skin was sought after until the mid‐20th century as it signified someone with wealth and status who did not have to labor in the sun. 2 …”