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Of the US$ 465 billion worth of sales in the global beauty and personal care industry, Asians contributed 29%, according to a report made by industry analysts, Euromonitor International, in late 2015.  A large chunk of the sales came from whitening products, and this sub-category is expected to grow further and will continue to drive industry sales upwards.

How to lighten your skin

There are a number of ways to lighten your skin tone, below are four ways to successfully do so:

1.  Use a skin lightening product. These products come in all forms — facial wash, body soaps, creams and spot correctors.  Cosmetics are even infused with skin lightening ingredients.  This widespread love for skin whitening products are particularly true in Asia.

Whether over-the-counter or doctor prescribed, these products all use the same mechanism to whiten your skin, that is, melanin, the pigment that gives skin color, is targeted and inhibited.  Some of the ingredients proven to cause skin whitening include Vitamin C, licorice extract, niacinamide, arbutin, acetyl glucosamine and, the gold standard of whitening, hydroquinone — more discussion on hydroquinone later.

Using these products can result to skin lightener for spot correction permanent skin damage so make sure to follow manufacturers’ instructions closely and only as indicated in the labels.

2.  Get hold of retinoids. The only way you can do so is by making an appointment with your dermatologist as these are prescription only.  Vitamin A derivatives are known to be the gold standards in wrinkle carebut, these wonder ingredients likewise also inhibit melanin that causes skin to visibly lighten.  Use these creams as a skin lightener for spot correction or for full facial application.

3.  Take Glutathione pills. First of all, it is important to get these from a reputable manufacturer and sells since these will have to be taken orally on a regular basis.

Glutathione pills work two ways to lighten skin.  First, it inhibits melanin production by blocking the pathways that causes melanin to be produced.  Second, it prevents increased levels of melanin in skin by flooding skin with antioxidants.  Antioxidants, in turn, fight free radicals which can cause melanin to be produced at higher levels whenever these successfully invade, damage and destroy cells.

4.  Try a chemical peel.Chemical peels can vary widely, ranging from mild to severe.  In any case, never use chemicals as bleaching agents or for DIY chemical peels at home.  These chemicals have the potential to permanently discolor or damage your skin that is why it is best to have these procedures done under the care of a qualified professional.

5.  Laser skin lightening.  You can choose from two types.  The older laser techniques are ablative or, cause damage to the top layer of your skin to go down to the problematic, dark patches of skin.  The other type is non-ablative, which means the damaged skin is tackled by laser light that goes underneath the skin without having to wound or damaged healthy skin.

These procedures are fast and efficient.  In some cases, several treatments will be necessary, depending on results desired and the severity of the damage being treated.  Side effects are uncommon for non-ablative types.  As for ablative laser treatments, expect to experience some redness, itchiness and discomfort.

A word of caution

There are three important reminders you need to keep in mind when you are planning to use a skin lightened:

1.  You must never miss out on sunscreen.  Skin lightening products tend to be formulated with ingredients, like retinols, that make the skin more prone to sun damage or photosensitive.

2.  You must never use products that contain hydroquinone.  Although this has been regarded as the gold standard in skin whitening, it is still under further investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a potential carcinogen.  Already, however, the European Union has banned hydroquinone for use in all cosmetic products since 2001.

3.  Make sure that your skin lightening product does not contain mercury.  Although mercury is banned for use in cosmetics in the US, it has been found in many whitening products originating from elsewhere.

Conclusion

It’s odd how women from fair-skinned countries want a tan so badly, and yet the ones who have richer skin pigments desire fairer, paler skin.  It may be a real preference but it can also well be the result of decades of advertising, consumerism and the commercialization of beauty.