Skin lightening, or skin bleaching, is a cosmetic procedure that aims to lighten dark areas of skin or achieve a generally paler skin tone.

Villareal, M. O., Kume, S., Bourhim, T., Bakhtaoui, F. Z., Kashiwagi, K., Han, J., Gadhi, C., & Isoda, H. (2013). Activation of MITF by Argan Oil Leads to the Inhibition of the Tyrosinase and Dopachrome Tautomerase Expressions in B16 Murine Melanoma Cells. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: ECAM, 2013. Tranxamic acid: Performed better than hydroquinone in reducing melasma in a study, and it appears to effectively reduce inflammatory acne. 24 46

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Mukherjee, S., Date, A., Patravale, V., Korting, H. C., Roeder, A., & Weindl, G. (2006). Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: An overview of clinical efficacy and safety. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 1(4), 327-348. Milk: Raw milk is one of the most easily available products that can be used for skin whitening. It controls the production of melanin which is the pigment responsible for skin color. While OTC skin brightening products don’t have the dangers of skin-lightening creams that a doctor prescribes, they take longer to work because they’re not as strong. Prescription skin-lightening creams begin to work in days, but it usually takes about a month to notice an appreciable reduction in pigment.

Brown, D., Branden, K., & Hall, R. E. (2018). Native American Colorism: From Historical Manifestations to the Current Era. American Behavioral Scientist. How each whitening cream works depends on its ingredients, but the majority of active ingredients found in these creams work by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase, which synthesizes melanin. 19 Preventing tyrosinase from doing its job should lower the amount of melanin, thereby reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Mayo Clinic. (2022). Laser resurfacing. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).Over the next few weeks, your skin should start to fade to a lighter colour. It will be sensitive to the sun for up to 6 months. Ludmann, P., & American Academy of Dermatology. (2022). How To Fade Dark Spots in Darker Skin Tones. AAD. The limitations of oral clinical trials are evident since the ability of GSH as an intact molecule decreases as it passes through the gastrointestinal tract. To pass the intestinal tract, glutathione has to be broken down into three amino acid components prior to absorption. Several animal studies showed that intact glutathione molecules may be absorbed through the small intestine, thus increasing plasma glutathione level. This would not be achieved if amino acid component is given in equivalent amount.

Andalou Naturals uses plant-based, cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, and gluten-free ingredients. The three key active ingredients in its Brightening Renewal Cream are: Additionally, Acure’s cream and serum don’t contain vitamin C. While nearly every other product in this guide does contain vitamin C (except for Hers Fast Fader), the ingredient can rarely lead to stinging, redness, and dryness in particularly sensitive skin. 45 Pricing Boo, Y. C. (2019). Human Skin Lightening Efficacy of Resveratrol and Its Analogs: From in Vitro Studies to Cosmetic Applications. Antioxidants, 8(9).Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Laser skin lightening may work for some people, while for others it may not have any effect, or the skin lightening may only be temporary. Cost