Bleaching products are used to quell pigmentation in order to defecate hyperpigmented areas. There are two well-known products with bleaching mechanisms effective on the skin: kojic acid and hydroquinone. Another effective product for bleaching pigmented spots is mandelic acid. It is used to treat different pigmented spots such as melasma, age spots and freckles.
Hydroquinone bleaches the color of the skin areas to which it is applied by killing off the melanin making cells. It does this for about 60-70% of its users. One of the most well known prescription hydroquinone products is Lustra. It contains 4% Hydroquinone concentration and can provide results in as little as four weeks. You can buy Lustra in the chemist's shop with a doctor's prescription. Any hydroquinone products available without prescription cannot include more than 2% hydroquinone. Medical researchers have shown that about 70% of patients use skin creams containing high amounts (4% or more) of Hydroquinone for a period of one-three years. Cosmetic Ochronosis or as usually known Exogenous Ochronosis, leads to a progressive discoloration of the skin. This problem is mostly limited to very dark skin types.
When using Hydroquinone, it is necessary to stay out of the sun during the treatment period. Always wear full spectrum sunscreen and a hat. Exposure to sun deteriorates the hydroquinone, rendering it ineffective. If you are planning on being in the sun, use a hydroquinone-free formula.
Kojic Acid was first found in Japan in 1907 as an alternative to hydroquinone. It is not an alpha hydroxy acid, but uses the same mechanism of action as hydroquinone. A research shows that Kojic Acid is an effective bleaching substance that prevents the production of brown pigment, usually called melanin. It is widely used in the Japanese diet and is believed to be useful to health. Kojic Acid is less irritating than hydroquinone.
There are many new skin-bleaching agents, which discovered as an alternative way to hydroquinone. Here are a few ingredients with lightening effects:
• Azelaic Acid.
• Bearberry Extract.
• Licorice Extract.
• Mulberry Extract.
• Arbutin.
| 
