Skin lightening is also known as skin whitening or skin
bleaching and is used to lighten skin color and even out skin
tones. Skin lightening may be used to make moles and birthmarks
match the rest of a person’s skin. When vitiligo is the problem
skin lightening may be used to give a more uniform appearance in
the areas not affect by the condition. The pigment, melanin is
responsible for the color of a person’s skin and the darkness of
that color. Melanin is also responsible for providing protection
from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. All people, regardless of skin
color can suffer from uneven pigmentation which is caused by too
much or too little melanin. Hyper-pigmentation which is
increased melanin production can be the results of overexposure
to the sun, hormone changes, injury or skin surgery, stress and
even some autoimmune diseases. The desire for an even skin tone
will prompt some people to try products and procedures to
lighten their skin by the removal of hyper-pigmentation. These
treatments range from