Skin lightening

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Under skin whitening (also English. Skinbleaching ) refers to bleaching or coating the human skin to them to the cosmetic to brighten purposes. In 2013, significantly more money was generated with skin bleaching agents, including illegal and very skin-damaging agents, than with tanning and sun protection products (40 billion, of which only twelve billion with legal means, at ten billion dollars). Worldwide, up to 27 percent of all non-white women are said to use skin lighteners.

history

In earlier epochs, for example during colonialism in Africa or during the period of absolutism in France , particularly fair skin was often considered an ideal of beauty . Fair skin was associated with genteel ancestry, probably because only someone who didn't have to go outside to work could keep fair skin. Even today one speaks of genteel pallor in this context .

Powders and skin creams with light pigments (e.g. the poisonous white lead ) were often applied to the skin. Targeted avoidance of the sun (e.g. staying in caves on Easter Island) was also practiced.

The skin lightening is known :

Skin lightening in European cosmetics

Skin lightening agents are used in the form of sticks and creams and the like. a. against

In addition to bleaching agents, covering creams ( camouflage ) and pens are also used here. With medically indicated skin lightening, deformations of the skin can be made less visible and the person affected can be helped psychologically. Permanent skin lightening can also occur as an unwanted consequence of burns, chemical burns and cosmetic peeling treatments .

By suppressing the formation of melanin , the skin becomes more sensitive to UV rays and their effects.

The active ingredient rucinol , developed in Japan, eliminates the cause of increased melanin formation ( hyperpigmentation ) for the first time .

The only approved drug in Germany is the combination of hydroquinone , tretinoin and hydrocortisone (Pigmanorm).

Skin lightening products are sold in Germany among the African diaspora in cosmetics stores for dark-skinned people, although from a medical point of view the aesthetically motivated lightening of the entire skin type is not established in the country.

Skin whitening in Africa and Asia

Skin lightening agents are used by numerous Africans and Asians in order to approach the alleged social ideal of the lightest possible skin. In some regions of Africa, skin lightening is a very common phenomenon that is practiced by around 80% of the population. In Ghana, Ivory Coast and Rwanda, bleaching agents are prohibited by law.

Often creams with dangerous ingredients such as mercury are used. Such remedies are quite effective, but in the long term can even lead to a darkening of skin areas and serious illnesses and health problems; these include wounds caused by severe chemical burns, pigment disorders, and in extreme cases also kidney failure, infertility and cancer.

The aim of the treatment is better chances on the marriage and job market. The considerable health risks and costs are accepted. Most users remain silent about bleaching their skin.

Active ingredients used (selection)

See also

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Frank Patalong: Ideals of Beauty: The False Skin. Spiegel Online GmbH, Hamburg, August 24, 2013, accessed on August 25, 2013 .
  2. ↑ Leipzig vocabulary: Archive link ( Memento of the original from January 15, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. genteel, frequent left neighbor of pallor . @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / wortschatz.uni-leipzig.de
  3. ↑ Malcolm Ohanwe: Skin bleaching in Germany - Is light skin really more beautiful skin? on br.de/puls
  4. ↑ a b c brand eins: a matter of fact. Last accessed on June 16, 2019.
  5. ↑ A. Backhaus, E. Okunmwendia: "When you are bright, you get better jobs, earn more, are invited". Whitening in Ghana. In: Spiegel. June 7, 2020, accessed June 8, 2020 .
  6. ↑ Chan TY. Inorganic mercury poisoning associated with skin-lightening cosmetic products. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2011 Dec; 49 (10): 886-91. doi: 10.3109 / 15563650.2011.626425. Epub 2011 Nov 9. PMID 22070559 .
  7. ↑ Chan TYK, Chan APL, Tang HL. Nephrotic syndrome caused by exposures to skin-lightening cosmetic products containing inorganic mercury. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2020 Jan; 58 (1): 9-15. doi: 10.1080 / 15563650.2019.1639724. Epub 2019 Jul 17. PMID 31314603

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