Bleach skin

General and history

Throughout history, pale, light-colored skin was considered a sign of prosperity. This is probably where the expression “to have a distinguished paleness” comes from. Powders and creams with light pigments were applied to help.

Such pigments included lead white, which is extremely toxic. Avoiding the sun (under umbrellas) was also common. Such behavior was known from Europe, Japan, China and the Roman Empire, for example.

Nowadays, skin whitening is used in Europe in the form of creams, sticks, etc., in order to adjust pigment spots, liver spots, skin irregularities and similar to the overall complexion. Covering creams and pens (“camouflage”) are also used here. There are many illegal substances in circulation that are used to lighten the skin, from which one should definitely refrain!

In Africa and Asia, for example, there are creams containing mercury, which are extremely harmful to health. Great care must be taken with such products, which are not issued by official pharmacies. Under no circumstances should you use bleaching creams or ointments without first consulting a doctor.

Currently in fashion is bleaching of the skin, but also the bleaching of conspicuous hair, especially on the face. Especially the beard is perceived by many women as a cosmetic blemish. In Germany, only the drug Pigmanorm is approved for skin whitening.

It is available only on prescription and contains the following active ingredients: Hydroquinone, hydrocortisone and tetrinoin. As a rule, the cream is used for no longer than 3 weeks and only once a day. It is applied to the dark areas to be lightened.

As soon as a lightening occurs, the dose should be reduced. Pigmanorm cream should not be applied to large areas. It is suspected that active ingredients of the cream have mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. The duration of application should therefore be kept as short as possible and the treated skin area should only be as large as necessary.

Skin bleaching with a cream

There is a cream that can be used for bleaching the skin. This cream contains the three active ingredients: tretinoin, hydroquinone and hydrocortisone. This combination of active ingredients is intended to prevent the pigment-forming cells of our skin (melanocytes) from producing melanin.

Melanin gives our skin a tan and is produced, for example, more after exposure to the sun. In addition, the hydrocortisone contained in the cream alleviates inflammatory processes in the skin. Furthermore, the active ingredients are said to promote the renewal of the skin. Other active ingredients are not approved in Germany for bleaching the skin due to adverse health effects.