Biochemistry of selected skin lightening agents:

Abstract

Skin whitening or lightening refers to the practice, deeply embedded in many ethnic groups using natural or synthetic substances to lighten the skin tone or provide an even complexion by reducing the melanin concentration in the skin. Example of such of chemicals include mercury, Hydroquinone, Kojic acid, Azeleic acid, Arbutin, Aloesin, N-acetyl glucosamine, Glabiridin (Liquorice), α-Hydroxyacids, ascorbic acid and its derivatives among others. Biochemically, these set of whitening agents target melanin production and many of them serve as competitive inhibitors to tyrosinase which is one of the key enzymes in melanogenesis. Skin bleaching has been associated with a variety of known adverse health effects ranging from dermatitis to exogenous ochronosis, steroid acne, mercury (Hg) poisoning,acne, stretch marks, hypopigmentation, cancer and nephrotic syndrome among others. Hence, biochemistry of all these bleaching agents needs to be elucidated to expose and prevent the adverse effects being caused by them