Do fairness creams really work?

New study suggests over-the-counter treatments barely affect skin tone

If you’re a fan of fairness creams, surely you must have questioned what you are putting on your skin at least a few times. Ever wondered if they’re good for you or not? Most experts claim they aren’t, considering the bleaching ingredients within.

But now, a new study seems hell bent on busting out all the myths around fairness treatments. Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), studied different types of people who use fairness creams, why they used them and if how effective they are, if at all, reported Asian News International.



The researchers surveyed 406 adults with cutaneous hyperpigmentation, who had been seen in a US-based dermatology clinic from February 2015 through July 2016. The most common conditions leading to use of lightening cream were melasma (brown to gray-brown patches) and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).

Less than half reported subjective improvement in their skin tone and results were even worse for those using over-the-counter creams: only 26.5% were satisfied with their results. Among those that did report improvement, the most effective agent was prescription-strength triple-combination cream.



“This descriptive study highlights important aspects in those who use lightening products. More than half of our responders were not satisfied with their creams, reporting that it did not improve their hyperpigmentation,” said study author Neelam Vashi.

Approximately half of the sample population, all of which had cosmetically bothersome hyperpigmentation, had tried lightening agents, with the vast majority consulting a doctor during the course of their treatment. The full findings are present in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology.

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