Skin creams that use hydroquinone as the primary bleaching agent are some of the most popular cosmetics in Ghana, where fairness is often associated with beauty and a person’s social capital.

A significant body of research has repeatedly sounded the alarm, uncovering “alarmingly high levels of mercury” in numerous ...

The skin lightening industry is filled with products containing ingredients that could literally kill you. Mercury, hydroquinone and other toxic chemicals promise brighter skin but deliver cancer, ...

Musanze (CNN)Sierra asks to use a pseudonym for fear of being caught by the authorities. The 27-year-old shopkeeper explains that she can't maintain her seven-year skin lightening routine because a ...

Meagan Good says rumors that she intentionally bleached her skin taught her a valuable lesson in self-acceptance. The photo collage features 30 contestants who advanced in the beauty pageant. Many ...

The Associated Press reports that even after a “Don’t Kill the Skin” campaign by Jamaican health officials to educate people about the dangers of skin-bleaching cream, their use hasn’t decreased at ...

The appeal of lighter skin may seem irresistible but here are the hidden dangers of bleaching creams and why you're doing more harm than good. The psychological effects behind bleaching cannot be ...

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with any advertisers on this site. Skin lightening might not be a familiar topic to many Americans, but it is a popular subject globally and in some U.S.

Many bleaching creams contain harmful chemicals like steroids, which can lead to skin thinning and other long-term health issues. [Courtesy] Every time Caroline* (not her real name) looked in the ...

Skin lightening products can be dangerous for consumers when they contain harmful ingredients that are illegal for over-the-counter sales, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned. The potentially ...

Skin-bleaching techniques, such as the use of skin lotions and soaps to attain a lighter skin tone, are widespread around the world, and generally motivated by cosmetic motivations or low self esteem ...

Skin care practices vary widely, and two common terms that often come up are "toning" and "bleaching." While both can alter the appearance of your skin, they are fundamentally different in their ...