Overview of skin whitening agents

Abstract

Skin whitening agents and depigmentation are one of the ancient practices that have been developed day by day from its beginning. It is common in many cultures of the world. Earlier natural whitening agents were the only option for preparation. But nowadays, many artificial (man-made) agents are the mostly used skin whitening agents available in the market. However, these whitening agents may produce side effects after applying on the skin for a long time and some of the whitening agents are also banned in different regions of the world. Alternatively, arbutin, kojic acid, and nicotinamide are also used in the western regions. This article gives an overview of the mostly used skin whitening agents with their benefits and side effects with all the required information. Keywords: Skin Whitening Agents, Types, Benefits, Side Effects, Mechanism of Action.