Since the existence of mankind, we have been obsessed with fair skin. Most of us relate fair skin with youthfulness, beauty, and a sign of high social status. No wonder why skin lightening creams have a huge global market. In 2017, the global skin lightening industry was worth $4.8 bn. It is expected to grow to $8.9 billion by 2027. (1)

Although fair skin has always been associated with beauty, the demand for skin bleaching creams is high because they are very helpful for reducing the appearance of age spots and pigmentation. These skin issues can make your face appear dull, dry, and aged. Skin bleaching creams can reduce the issues of hyperpigmentation and help you get an even tone, thereby making your skin look lively and youthful.

The market is flooded with thousands of skin bleaching products, such as creams, serums, scrubs, face wash, etc. All of these ‘so-called’ miraculous skin whitening creams claim to improve your skin tone and make you look like an angel. Surprisingly, many of these creams do work well. However, most of them are not safe, as they contain potentially harmful chemicals that can severely impact your skin and your overall health. Some of them even have mercury as their main ingredient. Prolonged exposure to mercury can damage the kidneys and affect the functioning of the nervous system. (2) Mercury is often listed as calomel, mercuric, mercurous, or mercurio. So, it can be really difficult for you to find out if the face whitening cream that you are considering is safe for use. To help you make the right choice, we at the Academic Association of Medicine have compiled a list of the top 10 best skin lightening creams. These products are absolutely safe for use and have been rated well by real buyers. But, before we get to the list of the top bleaching creams for face, let’s find out more about what skin bleaching is all about.

What Determines Skin Color?

Skin pigmentation is one of the most visible indicators that distinguish the appearance of human being from one region to another. In most cases, skin color is primarily determined by genetic inheritance, which further depends on melanin, a pigment that determines the color of the skin, hair, as well as eyes. The melanin content of a person’s skin is primarily determined by his/her genes. However, it is also produced by skin cells when they are exposed to sunlight. (3) So, the more the exposure to sun, the more your body will produce melanin, and the darker will be your skin color. This is the reason why African and Asian people have a dark skin color. Their genetic makeup as well as their prolonged exposure to sunlight gives them a darker skin color as compared to Americans and Europeans.

What Is Skin Bleaching?

Skin bleaching is a cosmetic procedure that helps reduce the appearance of blemishes and age spots and treats skin discoloration. Skin bleaching procedures can be done at parlor or you can do them on your own at the convenience of your home. The procedures are also known as skin whitening or skin lightening. You can buy skin bleaching products such as creams, scrubs, gels, serums, and skin packs from almost any medical or cosmetic store near you. Most of the skin lightening creams consist of ingredients that help reduce the concentration or production of melanin in the skin. With less melanin, your skin will obviously look fairer and brighter.

How Do Skin Lightening Products Work?

As mentioned above, skin bleaching products contain one or more active ingredients that help reduce the concentration and production of melanin in the skin. In the U.S, hydroquinone is the most widely used skin bleaching ingredient. In 1982, the USFDA recognized it as safe and effective. However, a few years later it concluded that hydroquinone is safe only in minute quantities. Since then, the FDA regulates the use of this chemical in the over-the-counter skin lightening creams. It mandates that the skin lightening cream for dark skin must not contain more than 2% hydroquinone. However, there are some products that can contain 4 to 6% hydroquinone. Such products are sold exclusively upon the recommendation of a dermatologist. While buying a face lightening cream, make sure you check the percentage of hydroquinone in it. Further, if you are buying a skin whitening cream that is not manufactured in the U.S., make sure you find out if it contains mercury. Mercury is another popular skin lightening ingredient. It is highly effective but it is a toxic agent and can cause neurological, psychological, and other kinds of diseases. Such creams are usually manufactured in the Asian and African countries.

Risks of Skin Bleaching

As mentioned above, excessive percentage of hydroquinone and mercury in skin lightening creams can cause various health hazards, including psychological and neurological problems. A study performed by the Dermatology Unit, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Nigeria concluded that skin bleaching creams can affect the skin’s ability to heal after an injury, lesion, or rash. (4) Another study published in the British Journal of Dermatology stated that the hydroquinone present in the face whitening cream can worsen the conditions in people suffering from skin diseases like acne, eczema, and dermatitis. Other than the side effects, prolonged use of skin whitening products can cause premature aging of the skin. The steroids present in some skin lightening creams can increase your chances of infection. Some other known side effects of the bleaching creams for face are itching, rashes, and allergic reactions.

Special Precautions When Using Skin Lightening Products

As mentioned above, while buying a skin bleaching product, make sure you read the ingredients carefully and ensure that it does not contain mercury. Mercury is sometimes listed under various misguiding names such as calomel, mercuric, mercurous, mercurio, etc. Be aware of these names. Further, you must read the label carefully and ensure that the hydroquinone content is not more than 2%. If the percentage of hydroquinone is not listed, do not buy that product. Before trying a skin bleaching cream always do a small patch test to ensure that it does not cause any kind of side reactions on your skin. Patch test is very important, so do not ignore this step. Also, read the instruction label carefully to find out the precautions that you need to take while using a specific whitening cream.

Best Skin Whitening Products

As mentioned above, the market is full of skin lightening creams for dark skin, each of them claiming to give you a miraculous result. Some of these face lightening creams do work, but a lot of them are associated with harmful side effects and even life-threatening diseases and conditions. So, finding the most effective formulation that will give you a brighter skin without affecting you in any other way can be a real challenge. At Academic Association of Medicine, we are determined to help you choose the right skin lightening products. Our team of skilled skincare experts have researched hundreds of best skin lightening creams and have come up with a comprehensive list of top 10 skin whitening products that you can safely try to get a brighter skin tone and youthful skin.

M.U Mermaid USA Whitening Pills

With 4.8 star rating on amazon, the M.U. Mermaid skin whitening pills are made of pure and natural herbs. It is a GMO free and soy-free product. Further, it does not contain any traces of sugar, salt, starch, yeast, wheat, gluten, fish, nuts, eggs, or dairy. Therefore, this bleaching product is suitable for vegans. The manufacturer claims that it doesn’t contain any artificial flavor, color, or preservative, thereby, making it a completely natural option for people who want to get a brighter skin tone. The manufacturer also claims that this product is 5 times more effective than the best skin lightening creams from Japan or Korea.

Other than improving your skin tone, the M.U natural skin lightening pills are also helpful for reducing the appearance of dark spots and acne scars. The herbs used in these pills have anti-aging properties, so you can expect this best skin whitening product to help you in multiple ways.

Scobuty Skin Bleaching Cream

Elaimei Natural Underarm Lightening & Brightening cream

TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C Serum for Face

LilyAna Naturals Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid

Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Exfoliating Daily Facial Scrub

Kiss Red E Anti-Aging Skin Lightening Cream

Buoceans Skin Brightening Cream

Puriderma Skin Lightening Serum with Kojic Acid Plus

Admire My Skin 2% Hydroquinone Dark Spot Corrector Remover For Face

Is it Safe to Use The Skin Lightening Products on Face?

References and Citations:

• Khan C. Skin-lightening creams are dangerous – yet business is booming. Can the trade be stopped?. the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/23/skin-lightening-creams-are-dangerous-yet-business-is-booming-can-the-trade-be-stopped.
• Skin Lightening Products. Airborne Precautions – Minnesota Dept. of Health. http://www.health.state.mn.us/topics/skin/gpfs.html.
• How Skin Color Is Determined. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080222155212.htm. Published February 27, 2008.
• Effects of Skin Bleaching. LIVESTRONG.COM. https://www.livestrong.com/article/128792-effects-skin-bleaching/.