Academic literature on the topic 'Skin lightening products'

Background. Skin bleaching is a major health concern among Jamaicans. A common ingredient in skin lightening products is mercury. Mercury is a toxic substance that can cause damage to the gastrointestinal tract, nervous system and kidneys. Objective. The objectives of this study were to use different analytical techniques to measure mercury concentrations in popular skin lightening products used in Jamaica and to assess individual levels of mercury exposure based on product usage. Methods. Sixty skin lightening products were purchased from different vendors across various locations in Jamaica. Each product was initially screened for mercury using a portable handheld energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. In addition, 25 out of 60 products were further measured using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CVAAS). Questionnaires were distributed to users of skin lightening products to determine their usage patterns. Results. Six products had mercury concentrations above the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowable limit of 1 ppm, of which three products contained alarmingly high concentrations (i.e. > 400 ppm). The majority of products (57 out of 60) had mercury concentrations below 10 ppm. The mercury concentrations in skin lightening products ranged from 0.05 ppm to 17,547 ppm. In our sample, 51% of women and 49% of men used skin products more than once per day. Conclusions. On average, creams contained more mercury than lotions and soaps. Individuals who use skin lightening products in Jamaica may be at risk for high mercury exposure, as some popular products were found to have mercury concentrations above the allowable limit. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Many cases of dermatologic complication were reported with the use of skin lightening products. This study assessed the skin lightening practice and health symptoms among female students. Self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 104 female students (56 undergraduates and 48 postgraduates) aged24±2years in Universiti Putra Malaysia. A total of 60.6% (N=63) of the female students used skin lightening products (61.9% of undergraduates and 38.1% of postgraduates). Reasonable price (N=35, 55.6%) and ingredients (N=29, 46%) were considered the most important factors in the product selection. Most respondents purchased the product from drugstores (N=39, 61.9%). Twenty-two respondents (34.9%) in this study experienced skin problem from the products they used. Skin peeling (N=13, 12.5%) and acne (N=9, 8.7%) were the most frequent symptoms experienced. Most of the respondents have the perception that lighter skin provides high self-esteem (N=56, 53.8%) and looks beautiful and healthier (N=54, 51.9%). The use of skin lightening products is common among female students in this study and some of these products can cause skin problems such as skin peeling, acne, and itching.

AbstractThe skin-lightening products for men in India and their mode of advertising have been shaping the concept of attractiveness for Indian men by portraying lighter skin tone as the most fundamental quality of being attractive, always desirable, and successful. Although women’s skin-lightening products in India have received attention by a few scholars lately, men’s products are still underresearched. Hence, this study aims to investigate the issue of colorism augmented by television commercials for men’s “fairness” (light skin tone) products in India. The primary data for this study are six Hindi television commercials for men’s skin-lightening products which were broadcast from 2005 to 2015 and were available on YouTube during data collection. The commercials are by one popular brand, Emami Fair and Handsome. The target commercials are significant for their categorical distinction in directness as well as for their nature of storytelling that helps facilitate the discourse of colorism itself. The methodology is a combination of multimodal analysis, critical discourse analysis, and advertisement analysis. The overall goal of this study is to bring visibility to this subtle and multilayered problem of colorism in Indian society which is being reinforced by the skin-lightening products for men.

Background: The cultural practice of skin bleaching is highly prevalent in Africa. Most reported cases of toxic effects of skin-lightening products occur in this region. Objective: To describe cases of misuse of over-the-counter (OTC) cosmetic skin-lightening products occurring in Canadian immigrants. Methods: Two cases of Canadian immigrants with severe complications from OTC skin-bleaching agents were identified in a community-based dermatology practice in Toronto. The case histories were reviewed and analyzed. Results: A 28-year-old African-Canadian woman developed extensive striae from long-term use of a topical cream containing clobetasol that she had purchased in a Caribbean health food store. A 55-year-old African-Canadian woman developed exogenous ochronosis from the use of a topical bleaching agent she had purchased in Ghana. Conclusion: Cosmetic skin lightening with unregulated topical products occurs in Canada. Dermatologists working in Canada need to be aware of this practice to provide appropriate directive care.

Background: Skin lightening products (SLP) are widely used cosmetics among people that may result in lightening of skin complexion and may damage the skin. There seems to be a strong demand for lighter skin tone that is shared globally and promoted by the media. Aims and Objectives: To investigate the knowledge, attitude, and use of SLPs and its social and psychological correlation among people in a south Karnataka district Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey, 2000 individuals irrespective of age and sex from a district in south Karnataka responded to a questionnaire. Results: This study explored SLPs use among 2000 individuals irrespective of age and sex in Hassan, Karnataka using a questionnaire. A total of 33.8% of the sample reported currently using SLPs, with women being two times more likely using these products. Among current users, 12.8% reported past experiences of adverse side effects. “Friends” and “Family” were the most common influence for using fairness products, followed by “Advertisements”. Discussion: Cosmetics market is flooded with skin lightening products and rampant use of the same has become a major public health concern in all countries along with the reinforcement of racism and social disparities. Side effects for skin lightening products are less reported which is similar to other studies. This could be the reason why there is no regulation of the products or the ingredients in the products. Conclusion: A high prevalence of SLP use was found in a sample of population in south Karnataka, and several social and mental health-related risk factors were found that may help in guiding interventions.

Arbutin is a compound of hydroquinone and D-glucose, and it has been over 30 years since there have been serious studies on the skin lightening action of this substance. In the meantime, there have been debates and validation studies about the mechanism of action of this substance as well as its skin lightening efficacy and safety. Several analogs or derivatives of arbutin have been developed and studied for their melanin synthesis inhibitory action. Formulations have been developed to improve the stability, transdermal delivery, and release of arbutin, and device usage to promote skin absorption has been developed. Substances that inhibit melanin synthesis synergistically with arbutin have been explored. The skin lightening efficacy of arbutin alone or in combination with other active ingredients has been clinically evaluated. Combined therapy with arbutin and laser could give enhanced depigmenting efficacy. The use of arbutin causes dermatitis rarely, and caution is recommended for the use of arbutin-containing products, especially from the viewpoint that hydroquinone may be generated during product use. Studies on the antioxidant properties of arbutin are emerging, and these antioxidant properties are proposed to contribute to the skin depigmenting action of arbutin. It is hoped that this review will help to understand the pros and cons of arbutin as a cosmetic ingredient, and will lead to future research directions for developing advanced skin lightening and protecting cosmetic products.

This study explores how changes in skin tone surveillance predicted by: (a) skin tone satisfaction, (b) preference for lighter skin tone, (c) internalization of cultural standards of attractiveness, and (d) use of skin-lightening products among Asian Indian women. Exploratory analyses with demographic variables such as age, education, and marital status were also examined. Cross-cultural issues in conducting research with Asian Indian women using U.S. American standardized measures of skin tone related variables were explored. Participants were 169 Asian Indian women over the age of 18 from New Delhi, Mumbai, and other major cities in India and proficiency in English. The data were collected via an Internet-based survey with measures including the Skin Tone Specific Surveillance Subscale of the Objectification Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS, McKinley & Hyde, 1996); the Skin Color Satisfaction Scale (SCSS, Bond & Cash, 1992); Internalization subscale from the Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance Questionnaire -3 (SATAQ-3, Thompson, van den Berg, Gurada, & Heinberg, 2004), and a questionnaire about skin tone preference and use of skin lightening products (Hamed, Tayyem, Nimer, & Alkhatib, 2010). Results of the study indicate that an increase in skin tone surveillance was significantly predicted by decreasing skin tone satisfaction, increased preference for lighter skin tone, internalization of cultural standards of beauty and increased use of skin lightening products among the participants. Implications of this study include illuminating the role of skin tone related attitudes and beliefs among Asian Indian women in the persistence of objectification experiences among Asian Indian women to advance feminist scholarship on objectification.

La couleur de la peau est le caractère physique de l’homme possédant la plus grandevariabilité. Originairement répartie selon un gradient géographique, les migrations depopulations sont venues nuancer cette répartition chromatique. La pigmentation caractérisetoutefois un espace géographique et les populations qui y vivent, constituant un marqueuridentitaire selon l’origine géographique des individus. La rencontre de populations d’originesdifférentes a donné naissance à un imaginaire construit autour de la couleur de la peau. Lapigmentation comme marqueur identitaire, qui n’a de sens que dans le domaine social, seconjugue à des mythes et stéréotypes qui ont évolués au cours du temps mais qui restenttoujours présents dans l’imaginaire social.Stigmatisante et chargée symboliquement, la couleur de la peau est soumise au mêmetitre que le reste du corps à un travail des apparences. Pour être jugée esthétiquementconforme aux normes dominantes, la peau doit répondre à des critères. Comme tout travaildes apparences, l’éclaircissement de la peau est un fait social s’inscrivant dans un système dereprésentations propre à l’environnement socio-culturel des populations qui s’éclaircissent.C’est dans ce contexte que cette pratique corporelle prend son sens. Or dans le cas despopulations originaires d’Afrique vivant en France, leur environnement socio-culturel se voitinfluencé à la fois par leur pays d’origine mais aussi par leur pays d’accueil, ainsi que par lesenjeux politiques les liant historiquement, des enjeux pour lesquels la couleur de la peau a putenir un rôle prépondérant, notamment durant la période de la colonisation.Au cours de notre étude, nous cherchons à faire un état des lieux de cette pratique auprèsdes femmes africaines vivant à Marseille. Nous essayons de mettre en évidence comment estréalisée cette pratique et à quels systèmes de représentations elle fait référence. Pour cela nousnous intéresserons aux produits et aux techniques permettant d’éclaircir la peau, au regard desfemmes africaines qu’elles utilisent ou non ces produits, mais également au discours socialsur la pratique émanant des publicités pour produits éclaircissants, des magazines fémininsciblant les femmes africaines mais aussi les vendeurs et les médecins témoins de l’impactnocif des produits.L’analyse globale de ces différents discours montre que la pratique de l’éclaircissementde la peau ne se limite pas à un changement de couleur de peau. En modifiant la teinte, maisaussi la texture et la luminosité de la peau, les femmes répondent à une logique sociale etimaginaire. En effet, la pratique de l’éclaircissement s’inscrit dans une logique imaginaire auxfondements empiriques et dont le résultat imprimé sur la peau des femmes aura un impactdans leur vie sociale. En changeant leur couleur de peau, les femmes rentrent dans uneconstruction bio-socio-subjective. Elles matérialisent ainsi une quête identitaire s’inscrivantdans un référentiel socio-culturel et chromatique.Ce travail a pour particularité d’apporter une analyse originale sur l’éclaircissement chezles femmes africaines à Marseille mais aussi un regard pluridisciplinaire nécessaire à l’étudede l’éclaircissement de la peau, une pratique corporelle qui renvoie à la fois à des fonctionsbiologiques et culturelles
The skin color is the physical feature of human who has the biggest variability. Originallyspread in fonction a geographic gradient, the migrations of populations came to shade thischromatic distribution. However pigmentation caracterises a goegraphic space andpopulations living there, it is them a tracer of identity in fonction of individual geographicorigin. From the meeting of populations of different origin came forth an imaginary built onthe skin color. The skin pigmentation, as identitary tracer, wich has sens only in the socialdomain, is combined with mythes and stereotypes wich had evolved in the course of time butwich still remain presents in the social imaginary.Stigmatising and symbolically weighty, the skin color is subordinate as the rest of thebody to a work of the appareances. To be judged esthetically coplining dominant norms, skinhas to answer to specific standards. Like all works of appreances, the lightening of skin is asocial fact circumscribing within a system of representation belonging to the socio-culturalenvironment of populations who light itself. It is in this context that this corporal practicetakes sens. Thus, in the cas of populations originating from Africa and living in France, theirsocio-cultural environment is influenced by both the country of origin and the recievingcountry, and also by the political stakes wich historically bind them, stakes for wich skin colorhad taken a preponderant function, in particular during the periode of colonisation.In the course of our study, we try to estimate the situation of this practice by africanwomen living in Marseille. We try to make evident how is realised this practice and to wichsystems of representations it makes reference. In this purpose, we take interest to the productsand techniques enabling to light the skin, to the position of african women using or not thoseproducts, to the social discourse on the practice coming from advertising for lighteningproducts, from feminin magazines targetting african women and also the sellers and thedoctors witness of the harmful impact of the products.The global analyse of these different discourses shows that the practice of lightening skindoes not limite itself to a changing of skin color. Modifing complexion, but also texture andluminosity of the skin, women answer to a social and imaginary logic. Indeed, the practice oflightening lies within an imaginary logic with empirical fondations and whose result printedon the women skin will have an impact in their social life. Changing the skin color, womenbring in a bio-socio-subjective construction. Thus they materialise an identitary questcircumscribing itself in a socio-cultural and chromatic referential.This work has for particularities to bring an original analyse on the lightening of africanwomen living in Marseille but also a pluridisciplinar glance necessary for the study of thelightening skin, a corporal practice wich refer to either biological either cultural functions

abstract: This dissertation investigates a subtle yet complex contemporary issue of colorism in India that traces its ideological roots back in the British colonial period or even prior to that. It focuses on the issue of skin-color discrimination in urban Indian men, which is significantly under-researched. This project aims at investigating the issue of skin-color discrimination through analyzing a small corpus of thirteen YouTube commercials dating from 2005 to 2017 for men’s skin-lightening products of a popular skin-care brand called “Fair and Handsome” from a multimodal critical discourse analytic perspective. This study further aims to understand how the discourse of colorism is operating in these Indian commercials for men’s skin-lightening products, what kinds of semiotic and socio-cultural (discourse) elements are naturalizing the notion of “fairness,” and finally, how the construction of male gender is facilitated. Although the project’s main theoretical arc is critical discourse analysis (CDA), the methodological needs necessarily require drawing upon theoretical tools from advertisement analysis, multimodal analysis, gender studies, social psychology, history, cultural anthropology, race theory, and other related fields of study. After successfully facilitating an exhaustive analytical undertaking, this dissertation contributes to the understanding of colorism as more than intra-group racism in India and situates this perpetuating issue as a contemporary research target in the socio-cultural contexts of globalization and urbanization.
Dissertation/Thesis
Doctoral Dissertation English 2019

Abstract Here we explore the chemical practice of skin whitening, a prevalent practice among young service sector workers in the Philippines and Indonesia. Chemical Whiteness investigates this problematic practice in everyday interactions, where people with darker skin are undervalued and those with lighter skin, which is considered pleasing to employers and clients, attain a higher value in the workplace. These workers are pressured to portray the good life they are selling to their clients, performing the “pleasing personality” that their companies want to associate with their services. To lighten their skin, our interlocutors apply range of expensive and often harmful products, often involving daily reapplication. While skin lightening is commonly associated with women, we discovered that in the Philippines, young men competing for positions in sales and customer service had also developed their own beauty routines with skin whitening products. While such practices are meant to increase young people’s worth in the service sector economy, like many other chemical practices explored in this book, they can lead to the further precarization of young people’s lives.

This research study is an exploration of the ways in which a beauty ideal is constructed from the promotion of skin lightening products across social media platforms Instagram and Facebook. In addition, it investigates consumers of skin-lightening products, the social media ‘influence' behind the adverts and their response to these advertisements, in a particular ethnic community: British Bangladeshi. The study through the examination of respondent's skincare regime using photo-elicitation and semi-structured interviews sought to deconstruct their aesthetics through skin colouring products. Combining visual discourse analysis from social media advertisements, the study presents the voices and experiences of the seven women to show how they construct their identities through the ‘fantasy' of whiter skin.