What is Skin whitening?
'''Skin whitening''', '''skin lightening''', or '''skin bleaching''', is a [[technique]] of making a person's skin lighter. This is done by reducing the [[melanin]] responsible for dark skin.<ref>Lee, Heun Joo ''et al'' 2015. Hesperidin, a popular antioxidant inhibits melanogenesis via Erk1/2 mediated MITF degradation. ''Int. J. Mol. Sci''. '''16''' (8). [http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/16/8/18384]</ref> Some [[chemicals]] in form of pills and [[injection]]s are available. Some of those chemicals (such as compounds of [[mercury (element)|mercury]]) may be [[toxic]]. Most skin lightening treatments are done to [[mole]]s and [[birthmark]]s, but lightening unaffected [[skin]] parts is also possible.<ref>Rashid, Aliya, ''A rush to cream the fairness fetish'' Dai</ref> More people use such treatments because prices have dropped and there is better availability.<ref>http://whitenskin.net/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130123200320/http://whitenskin.net/ |date=2013-01-23 }} The best tips for the perfect skin</ref> The new methods using both [[laser]]s and [[LED]] systems are showing good results and are possible alternative to chemicals.<ref>Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, May 2006, supplemental, pages 272-281; Dermatologic Surgery, March 2006, pages 365-371; Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, September–October 2004, supplemental, 27-34; International Journal of Dermatology, December 2003, pages 966-972; and Archives of Dermatology, December 2002, pages 1578-1582).</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{-}} {{stub}} [[Category:Cosmetics]]