Creams marketed to lighten skin tone are being sold illegally on British high streets, including in butchers and specialist food shops. It is an unsettling discovery, but perhaps not a surprising one. Demand for these products is real and the profits are significant. But the ingredients that make them effective are also what make them dangerous.
Healthy human skin comes in a wide range of diverse tones. These can change over time because of illness, hormones, sunlight or ageing. Some people want to lighten their overall skin tone, and “colourism” – discrimination or prejudice that favours lighter skin tones over darker ones – may contribute to psychological distress among people of colour. Others want to fade darker patches.
Acne, eczema and other inflammatory skin conditions can leave areas darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. This is known as hyperpigmentation (darkening) or hypopigmentation (lightening). Hormonal changes can also disrupt pigment, and scars can permanently alter skin colour.
