If your goal is to lighten large areas of skin, you're better off finding a convincing makeup and staying out of the sun to avoid tanning. Research so far hasn't given a green light to any all-over skin lightener. In fact, the truth is quite the opposite. There are plenty of substances to be wary of. On the other hand, there are a few natural and chemical substances that will somewhat lighten small areas of skin, perhaps in places where age spots, hormonal changes or even birthmarks have you seeing only flaws in the mirror. If you shop carefully, that kind of minor change in hue is within reach.
What to Look for
Read labels carefully. If the product contains a corticosteroid (which may appear on the label as clobetsol), put it back on the shelf. While short-term use of creams containing a steroid may work well for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, they're not meant for long term treatment. In fact, doing so may cause health problems such as Cushing's syndrome, which causes the body's adrenal glands to malfunction, increasing the appetite and and causing weight gain, deposits of fat in chest, face, upper back, and stomach, swelling, thinning of the skin and bones, muscle weakness, acne and other problems.
Another substance to look for--and avoid--is mercurous chloride. Because it is made in Mexico, some Hispanic women have used Crema de Belleza-Manning, which contains mercurous chloride, to bleach their skin in cultures that place higher value on fairer complexions. Crema da Belleza-Manning failed tests by Dr. S. Allen Counter, a Harvard neurologist. In 2003, Counter found that several groups of women born outside the United States unexpectedly acquired toxic levels of mercury in their blood. He found they were using this cream, which contains the compound iercurous chloride, and if applied onto the skin can enter the bloodstream and cause kidney and nervous system damage, psychiatric problems and birth defects.
So what can you use? So far, the product marketed as Porcelana has avoided the black list. Although it contains a steroid (hydroquinone), the level is less than 2 percent, which so far is deemed safe. Any amount of hydroquinone over 2 percent usually can't be bought without a prescription.
Your best bet are the herbal lighteners--which reads like a grocery list. Although evidence is not conclusive, many women have had success in lightening facial or other skin spots with licorice, raspberry, mushroom extract, bearberry, rice, kiwi, mulberry, grape seed extract and echinacea.
Common Pitfalls
Beware of the toxic chemicals listed in this article_temp. It may be best to purchase and use products made only in the United States and Europe. And even then, read the labels carefully.
Using skin lighteners makes your skin more susceptible to ultraviolet light, putting you at risk for sun damage and skin cancers.
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