Many people with darker skin tones use skin lightening or bleaching products, some for long periods of time. A new report from France published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that this may not be safe.
For the study researchers looked at a group of 46 people, most of whom admitted to using skin bleaching products. The average use was 14 years, though some used these products for as many as 38 years.
The researchers wanted to determine side effects, if any, of using skin lightening products. They were also interested in the effect the medications had on other systems in the body, which could or could not explain the side effects.
The most commonly used drugs for skin lightening were glucocorticoids, hydroquinone, and clobetasol. Most people reported using more than one medication at a time, which could compound side effects.
The most common side effects were damages or changes to the skin. Interestingly one of the side effects was hyperpigmentation, even though the drugs were being used to lighten the skin. The areas of increased color were over joints, such as knuckles. Stretch marks and skin atrophy were also two commonly reported side effects. The medications caused the skin to loose its normal elasticity and suppleness, leaving it weak and thin.
A less common side effect, but much more serious, was adrenal suppression. High doses of glucocorticoids can case the adrenal gland to shut down, which can affect other hormones besides glucocorticoids that are made in the adrenals. The drug clobetasol was associated with adrenal insufficiency in this study. Some participants were taking doses almost 10 times as much as needed to affect the adrenal glands.
Adrenal insufficiency can lead to more serious health problems and can be related to high blood pressure and diabetes.
The authors wanted to raise caution about the use of these common skin lightening medications. The side effects are serious and not uncommon. Another interesting finding is that many people had used the products for so long because they found it difficult to quit. Their bodies had become addicted to the drugs, which often mimic and replace some of the bodies own hormones.
The serious side effects caused the researchers in France to recommend against any use of skin lightening products at this time.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on November 20, 2006 04:25 PM
