SKIN WHITENING

Skin Whitening is the term for the process that lightens the skin by restricting the production of melanin.  It is the accumulation of melanin in the skin that causes dark skin color and age spots.  Skin typically darkens through the production of melanin brought on by exposure to the sun. Over time increased melanin may cause irregular dark spots on the face, back, arms, hands, and legs, which is widely known as hyper pigmentation. Skin whitening is a solution to such disorders and increasingly used by people seeking a fairer complexion.
Why should you use a Skin lightener? A skin-whitening agent is used either to address specific skin colour disorders or simply to gain an even toned or fair complexion. A typical skin whitening agent operates in the following manner to lighten the skin: As the skin naturally renews itself every 28 days, old pigmented cells are sloughed off and cells with less melanin are brought to the surface giving the skin a lighter, more even toned complexion.
How to choose a Skin Lightener? Skin lighteners are available by the dozen over the counters but you can also use home made remedies to prevent using chemicals on skin.
Most skin lightening agents include: Hydroquinone (the only US FDA Approved skin lightening agent) but due to recent awareness on toxic effects of hydroquinone other ingredients substituting hydroquinine include: arbutin, kojic acid, and licorice derivatives.

Homemade remedies for lighter skin include:
1 Buttermilk – works as a gentle bleach.
2 Equal parts of malt vinegar cucumber juice and rose water.
3 Two tablespoons of grated radish (horse radish) simmered in milk and made into a paste.

What are the key ingredients in a Skin Lightening agent?
4 Hydroquinone lightens the color of the skin areas to which it is applies, and is the only FDA approved product for bleaching.  It is affective in about 60-to70% of its users.   It is available over the counter in concentrations up to 2%, with higher concentrations obtained by prescription.  It is safe to use in low percentages and short periods of time. 
5 Kojic Acid is used as an alternative to hydroquinone. Research shows kojic acid to be an effective lightening agent, works in the same manner as hydroquinone and is less irritating.
6 Mandelic and glycolic acids are fruit acids.  They are not technically bleaching agents, but have shown to have lightening properties.
7 Arbutin is an extract of the bearberry plant.  It has been found to be a popular product used for de-pigmentation and is non-irritating to the skin.  Besides inhibiting the formation of melanin, arbutin is known as an anti-inflammatory and an anti-bacterial ingredient.  Licorice extract as well as arbutin are well tolerated and do not cause irritation.