Skin Bleaching or Skin Whitening

Uneven skin coloration is a problem that may reflect drastically in person 's  life both emotional and professional in his or her teenage as well as productive life.  As a response to that issue Cosmetology and Dermatology have developed over the ages numerous formulations in the form of creams, lotions, solutions  or even soaps in previous ages.

Lemon juice, vitamin C internally and externally, mercury compounds, hydroquinone and some of its derivatives, Plant extracts like arctostaphylos uva ursi plant-originated substances like alpha-arbutin have been used in chronological order in skin  whitening preparations. Lemon juice and vitamin C were shown to produce some early whitening effect, which however was far from satisfactory. Mercury compounds had been withdrawn soon because of their toxicity. 

Nowadays the most effective skin whitener is hydroquinone.Its use was introduced after some workers in the rubber glove industry had suffered skin discolouration. Hydroquinone was used as a rubber additive. In recent years because of toxicity problems its use has been forbidden in cosmetics.It can be used, however, by professionals and some countries like the United States of America have put uppest limits in its participation in dermatological preparations ( 2% ).Today Hydroquinone is combined with another important substance , tretinoin or vitamin A acid, which has a peeling, antiwrinkle and dermo regulating effect  as regards the melanocyte activity at the outezt dermis level.Many Dermatologists include in their skin whitening formulations a cortisone (hydrocortisone. triamcinolone,betamethasone ) in order to neutralize the irritating " pinching " effect caused by both Hydroquinone and tretinoin in the first minutes of application. This irritating effect withdraws spontaneously after some minutes. On the other hand cortisones may produce hirsutism i.e. growth of hair at the areas of application.

Another substance which is allowed to be used in cosmetics is the extract of arctostaphylos uva ursi and alpha-arbutin, a Hydroquinone derivative found in uva ursi and a few other plants. These substances participate in skin whitening cosmetics, which in turn can be included in skin whitening analytical prescriptions prescribed by Dermatologists in combination with tretinoin. But it is a common secret between skin professionals that Hydroquinone is the best skin whitening substance.