However, most of the skin lightening and fairness methods
are semi-permanent and fairer complexion lasts as long as
you keep using the products or keep undergoing the
maintenance treatments.
Once you stop the products or the treatment, you are
back to square one, as genetically controlled melanin
production takes over.
There are two aspects of skin pigmentation and one of
them is hereditary factor which is a permanent program.
Genes have the permanent instructions about the amount
of melanin our skin should produce leading to its
darkening or lightening.
Another pigmentation process is by various biological
reactions of the body to exogenous and endogenous
factors.
Factors like sun exposure (tanning), chemical exposure
(hypo and hyper-pigmentation), free radicals (melasma and
dark spots), aging (freckles, liver spots or age spots) and
idiopathic (with unknown reason) permanent skin
lightening or darkening cause blemishes to appear on our
skin spoiling the evenness in complexion.
Various homemade as well as chemical remedies are
available to achieve fairness and lightening and protect
skin from permanent damage due to prolonged neglect of
the adverse conditions.
However continuous treatment, protection from sun
exposure and sunscreen are essential for extending the
skin lightening effects achieved.
Many of the homemade skin lightening recipes no doubt
improve fairness and make you look a few shades fairer.
Many traditional tips for fair complexion are effective with
years of experience and experimentation behind them.
Many of the recipes are scientifically tested and are
scientifically explainable.
However, if permanent skin lightening is claimed, we have
to take with a pinch of salt.
Enhancing exfoliation and free-radical control are the two
main actions of most of the remedies.
Skin growth is a continuous process and the outer dead
epidermis is shed by desquamation.
This dead debris holds lots of melanin pigment and if it is
removed by exfoliating ingredients the inner layers of
epidermis show up with lightening in color.
Melanin pigment production itself is an oxidative process.
When there is higher presence of free radicals, as during
sun exposure, the melanin production is speeded up,
which darkens the skin.
Most of the skin lightening ingredients have antioxidant
properties.
Because of their antioxidant properties the oxidative
processes in the skin are reduced, cutting down the
pigment production.
Many ingredients like lemon juice, tomato juice, honey,
vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, oatmeal and yogurt show
either antioxidant property or exfoliation property; many
have both the properties.
There are many chemicals available for fairness and
lightening and except for one or two of them permanent
results cannot be realized.
Hydroquinone, glutathione, arbutin, tretinoin, glycolic acid
and kojic acid are some of them.
They show good results and are especially useful for
treating acne scars, freckles, liver spots etc.
They are the main ingredients in most of the cosmetic
products.
Many of these cosmetic procedures inhibit the production
of the enzyme tryosinase, which in turn inhibits the
production of melanin pigment.
After these treatments, maintenance application must be
carried on to retain the skin lightening achieved.
However, monobenzone which should be used under the
advice of a doctor gives permanent lightening.
Monobenzone (C 13H 12O2) is the monobenzyl ether of
hydroquinone which is a tasteless, white crystalline
powder and goes by the popular brand name Benoquin
(20% monobenzone).
Monobenzone has been in use for permanent skin
lightening in treatment of vitiligo (an autoimmune disease
wherein the body's own immune system kills the
melanocytes).
The exact way monobenzone works in still not clear and in
some cases its action may not be predictable.
Monobenzone appears to cause permanent destruction of
melanocytes and give depigmentation.
When monobenzone treated skin is studied under
microscope it shows, very similar to vitiligo affected one,
being devoid of melanocytes.
Monobenzone is a potent depigmenting agent and is
medically contraindicated in all conditions except in
extensive disseminated vitiligo (leukoderma) wherein more
than 50% area suffered pigment loss.
Monobenzone, being called monobenzyl ether of
hydroquinone, should not be taken as a substitute to
hydroquinone as both the drugs have fundamentally
different ways of actions in depigmenting.
NEVER repeat NEVER use monobenzone as fairness cream
or to remove scars and age spots as the application will
have irreversible permanent devastating effects on the
system.
Normal areas, which are distant from areas of application,
may get depigmented (satellite depigmentation) in a
irregular manner and the depigmentation may be
permanent.
In some persons monobenzone has been found to cause
dermatitis and burning sensation.
In some cases vesicular dermatitis was seen only on the
normal pigmented skin.
In some cases monobenzone was found to cause acquired
conjunctival melanosis.
Family members coming into contact with treated area of
skin soon after monozone application have the risk of
getting their normal skin depigmented.
The treated area acquires permanent reddish pink color
similar to albinism and becomes photo-sensitive.
In some persons, follicular melanocytes may survive and
produce resistant pigment spots
Monobenzone cream is only for external use and it should
be kept out of reach of children.
A physician or Poison Control Center must be immediately
contacted in case of accidental application or ingestion.
Great caution must be taken when used on pregnant
women and nursing mothers as its effects on fetus and
newborn is not known.
Long term studies on permanent impairment of fertility,
mutagenesis and carcinogenesis are yet to be concluded.
Its safety in young children is yet to be established.
Prolonged sun-exposure of areas of skin treated with
monobenzone can get sun burnt and sufficient protective
precaution with sunscreen must be taken
are semi-permanent and fairer complexion lasts as long as
you keep using the products or keep undergoing the
maintenance treatments.
Once you stop the products or the treatment, you are
back to square one, as genetically controlled melanin
production takes over.
There are two aspects of skin pigmentation and one of
them is hereditary factor which is a permanent program.
Genes have the permanent instructions about the amount
of melanin our skin should produce leading to its
darkening or lightening.
Another pigmentation process is by various biological
reactions of the body to exogenous and endogenous
factors.
Factors like sun exposure (tanning), chemical exposure
(hypo and hyper-pigmentation), free radicals (melasma and
dark spots), aging (freckles, liver spots or age spots) and
idiopathic (with unknown reason) permanent skin
lightening or darkening cause blemishes to appear on our
skin spoiling the evenness in complexion.
Various homemade as well as chemical remedies are
available to achieve fairness and lightening and protect
skin from permanent damage due to prolonged neglect of
the adverse conditions.
However continuous treatment, protection from sun
exposure and sunscreen are essential for extending the
skin lightening effects achieved.
Many of the homemade skin lightening recipes no doubt
improve fairness and make you look a few shades fairer.
Many traditional tips for fair complexion are effective with
years of experience and experimentation behind them.
Many of the recipes are scientifically tested and are
scientifically explainable.
However, if permanent skin lightening is claimed, we have
to take with a pinch of salt.
Enhancing exfoliation and free-radical control are the two
main actions of most of the remedies.
Skin growth is a continuous process and the outer dead
epidermis is shed by desquamation.
This dead debris holds lots of melanin pigment and if it is
removed by exfoliating ingredients the inner layers of
epidermis show up with lightening in color.
Melanin pigment production itself is an oxidative process.
When there is higher presence of free radicals, as during
sun exposure, the melanin production is speeded up,
which darkens the skin.
Most of the skin lightening ingredients have antioxidant
properties.
Because of their antioxidant properties the oxidative
processes in the skin are reduced, cutting down the
pigment production.
Many ingredients like lemon juice, tomato juice, honey,
vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, oatmeal and yogurt show
either antioxidant property or exfoliation property; many
have both the properties.
There are many chemicals available for fairness and
lightening and except for one or two of them permanent
results cannot be realized.
Hydroquinone, glutathione, arbutin, tretinoin, glycolic acid
and kojic acid are some of them.
They show good results and are especially useful for
treating acne scars, freckles, liver spots etc.
They are the main ingredients in most of the cosmetic
products.
Many of these cosmetic procedures inhibit the production
of the enzyme tryosinase, which in turn inhibits the
production of melanin pigment.
After these treatments, maintenance application must be
carried on to retain the skin lightening achieved.
However, monobenzone which should be used under the
advice of a doctor gives permanent lightening.
Monobenzone (C 13H 12O2) is the monobenzyl ether of
hydroquinone which is a tasteless, white crystalline
powder and goes by the popular brand name Benoquin
(20% monobenzone).
Monobenzone has been in use for permanent skin
lightening in treatment of vitiligo (an autoimmune disease
wherein the body's own immune system kills the
melanocytes).
The exact way monobenzone works in still not clear and in
some cases its action may not be predictable.
Monobenzone appears to cause permanent destruction of
melanocytes and give depigmentation.
When monobenzone treated skin is studied under
microscope it shows, very similar to vitiligo affected one,
being devoid of melanocytes.
Monobenzone is a potent depigmenting agent and is
medically contraindicated in all conditions except in
extensive disseminated vitiligo (leukoderma) wherein more
than 50% area suffered pigment loss.
Monobenzone, being called monobenzyl ether of
hydroquinone, should not be taken as a substitute to
hydroquinone as both the drugs have fundamentally
different ways of actions in depigmenting.
NEVER repeat NEVER use monobenzone as fairness cream
or to remove scars and age spots as the application will
have irreversible permanent devastating effects on the
system.
Normal areas, which are distant from areas of application,
may get depigmented (satellite depigmentation) in a
irregular manner and the depigmentation may be
permanent.
In some persons monobenzone has been found to cause
dermatitis and burning sensation.
In some cases vesicular dermatitis was seen only on the
normal pigmented skin.
In some cases monobenzone was found to cause acquired
conjunctival melanosis.
Family members coming into contact with treated area of
skin soon after monozone application have the risk of
getting their normal skin depigmented.
The treated area acquires permanent reddish pink color
similar to albinism and becomes photo-sensitive.
In some persons, follicular melanocytes may survive and
produce resistant pigment spots
Monobenzone cream is only for external use and it should
be kept out of reach of children.
A physician or Poison Control Center must be immediately
contacted in case of accidental application or ingestion.
Great caution must be taken when used on pregnant
women and nursing mothers as its effects on fetus and
newborn is not known.
Long term studies on permanent impairment of fertility,
mutagenesis and carcinogenesis are yet to be concluded.
Its safety in young children is yet to be established.
Prolonged sun-exposure of areas of skin treated with
monobenzone can get sun burnt and sufficient protective
precaution with sunscreen must be taken
