Assessment on Ingredients of skin lightening products on Sale in Thika Town
Abstract
With the public‟s growing interest in skin whitening, lightening ingredients only used
under dermatological supervision until recently, are more and more frequently
incorporated into cosmetic formulas. The active agents that lighten skin tone are either
natural or synthetic substances. They are used to treat various skin pigmentation
disorders or simply to obtain a lighter skin tone as whiter skin may be synonymous of
wealth, health, youth, and/or beauty in different cultures. However, recent studies
demonstrated the adverse effects of some of these ingredients, leading to their
interdiction or restricted use under the regulations. After an overview of skin whitening
practices and the associated risks, this article provides insight into the mechanisms
involved in melanin synthesis and the biological assays available to attest the lightening
activity of individual ingredients. The legislation dealing with the use of skin lighteners
is then discussed. As traditional depigmenting agents such as hydroquinone and
corticosteroids are of safety concern, the potential of natural extracts has been
investigated more and more
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- School of Pharmacy [156]