Research Summary
Skin color, along with hair and eye color, is genetically determined by the amount of melanin found in the top layers of the skin. Its varied presence, which accounts for different skin colors, is linked to a population's historical levels of sun exposure. Skin-lightening is just one of many options for altering the skin’s surface appearance, which includes tanning, scarification, makeup, tattooing, facelifts, nose jobs, botox, lip extensions, and piercings.
Skin-bleaching practices, such as using creams and soaps to achieve a lighter skin tone, are common worldwide. These practices are often driven by cosmetic reasons that have deep historical, economic, sociocultural, and psychosocial roots. The cosmetics industry has traditionally relied on convincing individuals that they are incomplete without a specific product. However, unlike makeup or fake tan, skin-whitening creams perpetuate a racial hierarchy, promoting intolerance and causing serious social harm. Lighter and fairer skin is something many aspire to, and celebrities play a significant role in promoting this trend. Like women, men also seek glowing, healthy-looking skin to enhance their appearance. However, many men feel hesitant to discuss skincare routines, perceiving them as "all-girl stuff." Despite this, it is undeniable that men also need to improve their skin texture to feel good.
Studies have documented the use of skin fairness products, sometimes referred to as "skin whitening products," "skin bleaching products," or "depigmenting agents," in Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia, with prevalence rates ranging from 30 to 80% among various community samples. These products include whitening and skin-lightening creams, face washes, deodorants, and lotions. They work by suppressing melanin production, the pigment that gives skin its color. While traditionally marketed to women, skin fairness products have become increasingly popular among men. These agents target hyperplastic melanocytes and inhibit key regulatory steps in melanin synthesis.
Historically marketed to women, companies have recently expanded their offerings to include products specifically designed and marketed for men. Advertisements and packaging prominently claim that these products will make the skin fairer and more even-toned. Product names and the use of well-known models and actors in advertisements suggest that these products will enhance consumers’ cultural capital by improving their attractiveness, youthfulness, confidence, and success.
The relevance of skin fairness products to public health is emphasized by the size of the industry, the widespread use of these products, and the potential health risks associated with their use. Skin-whitening cosmetics are a multi-billion-dollar industry promoting the idea that beauty is synonymous with white skin and that lightening dark skin is both achievable and desirable.
Keywords: Skin bleaching; Whiteners; Hyperpigmentation; Fairness creams; Melasma; Tyrosinase inhibitors; Dark skin; Melanosomes
<Access the full report below>