What are skin whitening & skin bleaching cream?

Learnt the Difference Between Skin Whitening and Skin Bleaching the Hard Way

In today's world of beauty mode and filters, looking good effortlessly comes very easily to everyone. But all that is online. There are no filters in real life, when you look in the mirror or when you meet others. This only makes one desire healthy skin, one with an even tone all over, with no pigmentation and dark spots on face. Here’s how skin whitening cream for women took birth. Now, this might seem like a very small requirement, but it is one of the most difficult goals to achieve in terms of skincare – to have clear skin naturally.

What is Hyperpigmentation?

The condition of having an uneven skin tone is known as hyperpigmentation. In layman's terms, hyperpigmentation means the darkening of the skin. If not treated properly, can be the bane of one's life. It's a very difficult skin condition to deal with and get rid of.

What causes Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation occurs because of melanocyte, which is a cell that makes melanin (pigment) which gives our skin its color. Melanin protects the skin against harmful UV rays. So, when you're out in the sun, the melanocyte increases the production of melanin, and that's how your skin gets tanned. Increased melanin gives the skin more pigment, making it appear dark. There can be various causes of hyperpigmentation, ranging from sun exposure to genes and hormones. It is the attempt of dealing with this condition, which results in people looking for skin-lightening creams/ treatments or face brightness cream.

The generic steps in treating any condition include identifying the issue and then taking steps to treat it. So, once you realize you have hyperpigmentation, there begins a search for Ayurvedic face cream for women like face brightness cream that will help you have an even skin tone. Needless to say, there is a wide variety of products and dark spots removal cream available in the market that claim to treat hyperpigmentation. Skin whitening cream for women is a colossal part of these products. This is where you have to read carefully because this is the step that can make or break your skincare game. This is where you need to know the difference between skin whitening and skin bleaching in face cream for women.

Skin Whitening

Skin whitening refers to the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Skin whitening cream for women tackle dark spots on face, blemishes and sun damage. As mentioned above, hyperpigmentation may be caused by a variety of factors. Thus, in order to treat it properly, it is required that the cause of the same should be taken into consideration. The most common factor responsible for hyperpigmentation is the excess damage from the sun's UV rays. This type of hyperpigmentation may be treated topically (application on the surface of a part of the body). However, if the problem persists, it is advised that a dermatologist may be consulted. The prime object of skin whitening cream is to reduce hyperpigmentation. face cream for women also known as skin whitening cream for women or dark spot removal cream is a great option to get rid of hyperpigmentation. When applied, skin whitening cream for women work on the affected areas, by providing an even skin tone, which is the object of one's affection.

Skin Bleaching

The process of using products to achieve a lighter complexion is known as skin bleaching. Skin bleaching lightens the skin by reducing the concentration of melanocytes (cells that make melanin and give color/pigment to the skin). A reduction in the number of melanocytes ensures the reduction of melanin. Since melanin is the deciding factor for the skin's complexion, the reduction of melanin ensures a lighter complexion, changing the skin tone of the person.

As explained above, melanin protects the skin against the harmful UV rays of the sun. Tampering with the same may result in skin damage and other dermatological issues. Skin bleaching products mostly contain hydroquinone and mercury. Hydroquinone has been recognized as a hazardous chemical by the World Health Organization. Both of these ingredients are very harmful to the skin. They are capable of significantly damaging the skin and are so harmful that they have been banned in a few countries. However, despite the ban, products containing hydroquinone and mercury are advertised and sold. There are no benefits to bleaching the skin and dermatologists recommend not to go for the same.

The Difference Between Skin Whitening and Skin Bleaching

The terms skin whitening and skin bleaching may seem the same, but there is a fine line that separates the two. Skin whitening refers to the treatment of hyperpigmentation by targeting dark spots on face, age spots and blemishes, etc. Whereas skin bleaching is the process by which you lighten your skin entirely, thereby changing the skin tone. This is the most significant difference between both concepts. Skin whitening aims at achieving an even skin tone and skin bleaching aims at changing the skin tone.

One of the easiest ways to treat hyperpigmentation is to treat it topically, using a skin whitening cream for women. Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Retinol, etc. are ingredients that treat hyperpigmentation, but these are expensive and difficult to formulate. Vitamin C face serum is also used to treat hyperpigmentation

Hydroquinone and mercury are easy on the pocket and are added to a lot of products that are advertised to treat hyperpigmentation. Because of their bleaching properties, they too are capable of lightening dark spots and blemishes. This makes it rather easy for people to get confused and continue using bleaching products. In these fast times, when people are trying to achieve everything in face brightness cream, checking the ingredients of their skin care products that promise beautiful, even-toned skin, becomes another addition to their to-do lists. A lot of companies benefit from the same because they market their skin bleaching creams as a skin whitening cream for women and get away with it, because of the similar short-term effects.

Hazards of Skin Bleaching

Skin bleaching is the process of using products that lighten the overall complexion of the skin. It has absolutely no medical benefits and dermatologists advise against it. Skin bleaching is mostly done for purely cosmetic reasons, because the notion that fair is beautiful is a very deeply rooted notion around the world, especially in Asian and African countries. Skin bleaching dates back to the Victorian era when women were trying to get fairer by using lead paint on their faces and consuming arsenic wafers (little poisonous chips) for a lighter skin tone. Companies in the 21st century monetized the idea of fairness by introducing various skin whitening products like face brightness cream, including a skin whitening cream for women as well. They started using ingredients like hydroquinone to maximize profits, without caring about the disastrous effect it may have on the users.

The various disadvantages of skin bleaching include itchy, irritated and inflamed skin. It may even cause permanent darkening of the skin. Overusing bleaching products may also cause thinning of the skin which can further lead to the visibility of blood vessels and the inability of the skin to heal when damaged. The mercury present in bleaching products may also damage the blood vessels in the kidneys and the lungs.

When used during pregnancy, bleach may cause serious damage and abnormalities in the baby. The steroids contained in the skin bleaching creams enter the blood, through the skin and cause the blood sugar level to rise, making one susceptible to diabetes.

Ingredients to Look in Skin Whitening Cream for Women

As horrifying as that may seem, there are products like skin whitening cream for women that are safe for use and treat hyperpigmentation and provide you with beautiful, blemish-free skin. They, too, block/reduce the production of melanin, but they are not safe to be applied topically, and also do not have any latent disadvantages.

When looking for a skin whitening cream for women, look for ingredients like niacinamide, plant based vitamin C, retinol, glycolic acid and salicylic acid, etc.

Niacinamide is one of the best ingredients to treat hyperpigmentation. It is a form of vitamin B-3 and when applied topically, it blocks the transfer of melanin to the skin cells resulting in lightening the dark spots on face and overall giving the skin radiance. Niacinamide is also known to treat and stop acne, in terms of ensuring blemish-free skin.

Vitamin C treats hyperpigmentation by helping the production of collagen, which ensures cell turnover and therefore, an even toned skin. Its antioxidant properties are an added advantage. Vitamin C Face Serum by Blue Nectar has plant-based Vitamin C in it.

Retinol is another ingredient that helps immensely with hyperpigmentation by exfoliating the old dull skin and generating and bringing new cells to the skin's surface.

Products containing AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids) like glycolic acid, salicylic acid, etc. exfoliate the skin, and remove the dead skin, paving way for the new skin cells to move to the surface.

The Do’s and Dont’s of Skin Whitening Cream for Women

There are a few points that one needs to remember, when using a skin whitening cream for women, to make sure that maximum benefit is derived from the same.

Skin whitening cream for women should always be stored in a cool place, away from the sunlight. Heat can change the formulation of the products and they may end up damaging the skin rather than helping it.

Try using the skin whitening cream for women at night. The ingredients present in them may cause photosensitivity. This definitely wouldn't sit well with your skin. if you step out after using them in the afternoon. However, there are certain skin whitening creams for women that are formulated with SPF and face cream for women may be safe to use even during the day.

Nevertheless, you must apply sunscreen, irrespective of the fact that you used these skins whitening cream for women during the day or the night, as sunscreen would protect the skin from harmful UV rays.

Try to keep your skincare routine simple by using face cream for men or face cream for women (depending upon your skin type) like skin whitening cream for women and don't use too many face creams for women at once. Certain ingredients may not work well with others which would lead to a compromised skin barrier and open the gates to other skin-related issues.

Bottom Line

If used properly and with caution, skin whitening cream for women can be a boon, by treating hyperpigmentation and giving you even-toned skin that looks healthy and beautiful. Be very careful, while picking a skin whitening cream for women because it is a leave-in product, and may sit on your face and body and then get absorbed into it. Be mindful of the ingredients, store face cream for women properly and wear sunscreen to prevent the dark spots and blemishes from darkening and you're golden.

Recommended Products by Blue Nectar:

Shubhr Dark Spot Corrector Cream with Natural Vitamin C for Glowing Skin (Women)

Shubhr Anti Aging Saffron Cream for Natural Collagen Boost & Deep Moisturization (Women)

Shubhr Brightening & Radiance Eladi Face Cream with SPF 30 (Women, 19 Herbs)

Shubhr Skin Brightening and Lightening Cream for Men with Sandalwood (Men)

Niraa Cocoa Butter Nargis Brightening Body Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 30