Skin-bleaching active ingredients are used to bleach or whiten human skin in order to make it lighter for cosmetic reasons, e.g. in case of pigment spots (ageing spots, freckles), moles and irregular complexion. By suppressing the melanin formation, the skin becomes more sensitive to UV radiation and its consequences.
* Melanin is a dark brown to black pigment in the skin that is increased during exposure to the sun.
Several chemicals have been shown to be effective in skin whitening, while some have proven to be toxic or have questionable safety profiles. This includes mercury compounds which may cause neurological problems and kidney problems.
** other names for skin whitening: Skin lightening, brightening, depigmentation, bleaching