Skin lightening pills: The information you need

For a long time, for Asian women, owning a bright white skin is a standard of beauty. To meet that need, there are many types of cosmetics with whitening ingredients. However, for cosmetics to be effective, it takes a long time. Side effects such as allergies are also quite common. And now, science has made a new step with the introduction of skin lightening pills. So what are they and how do they work, let's find out!

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• 1. Origin of skin pigmentation
• 2. Mechanism of action of skin lightening pills
• 3. Why are skin lightening pills popular?
• 4. The ingredients of the skin lightening pill

1. Origin of skin pigmentation

Skin color is caused by a combination of four factors: oxyhemoglobin (red), hemoglobin (blue), carotenoids (yellow), melanin (orange - black).

Melanin is produced from pigment cells (melanocytes). Then the melanin is contained in the melanosomes. Between races, the number of pigment cells is the same. However, skin color is different due to differences in the number and distribution of melanosome vesicles.

In the synthesis of melanin, tyrosinase (TYR) is an enzyme that plays the most important role. Tyrosinase will play an active role in starting the synthesis of melanin

Melanin production is greatly influenced by sunlight and other light sources such as electronic devices. This action generates free oxygen radicals. This stimulates the production of more melanin pigments. In addition, skin care products, stress, and hormones also have a significant influence.

2. Mechanism of action of skin lightening pills

The active ingredients in the skin lightening pill will interfere with the melanin synthesis. Their primary target is tyrosinase (TYR). In addition, can also work to reduce the formation of skin pigmentation through:

• Eliminate free radicals.
• Inhibits melanin transport.
• Effect on melanin distribution.
• Accelerate skin regeneration.

Refer to the article:  Safe and effective ways to whiten skin at home .

3. Why are skin lightening pills popular?

To get white skin with cosmetics, you have to use many skin care steps with different types of products. That's a waste of your time. Not to mention the use of many lines of topical products can increase the risk of your skin having an allergic reaction: redness, itching, stinging ...

Skin lightening pills with systemic effects can provide the same effect in a shorter time. The naturally extracted skin lightening ingredients also reduce the risk of skin allergies for you.

For these reasons, skin lightening pills are currently of great interest.

4. The ingredients of the skin lightening pill

4.1. Glutathione (GSH)

General information

This is the most commonly used skin lightening oral ingredient. This active ingredient is often used alone or in different combinations. Glutathion is an antioxidant synthesized in all mammalian cells from three amino acids – glutamate, cysteine, and glycine. It is also naturally available in watermelon, avocado, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.

Glutathione is involved in various biochemical processes. Especially those related to the elimination of free radicals and the detoxification of toxic compounds. The role of GSH as a skin-whitening agent is a recent accidental discovery. As a result, using GSH as a body whitening agent is quite popular nowadays.

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Mechanism of action

Glutathion works to whiten the skin through the following mechanisms:

• Effects on TYR transport.
• Direct inhibition of TYR by disabling.
• Converts eumelanin, which causes darkening of the skin, to pheomelanin. Pheomelanin is the type of melanin that gives the skin a light color.
• Eliminates free radicals that cause increased melanin production.
• Modulates the whitening ability of melanocyte cytotoxic agents.

Efficacy and dosage

Oral GSH is classified as safe by the FDA. They are often marketed as a dietary supplement. However, the FDA has banned the use of intravenous forms of GSH for skin whitening due to their side effects.

The study showed that a dose of 20-40 mg/kg/body weight/day was divided into two doses with a maintenance dose of 500 mg/day. Gradual effects will be seen after 1-3 months in medium brown skin, in 3-6 months in dark brown skin and in 6-12 months in very dark skin.

GSH is also combined with many other agents such as vitamin C to increase its absorption, N-acetylcysteine ​​to increase its levels, alpha lipoic acid and antioxidants such as vitamin E and grape seed extract. However, some oral preparations have dangerous combinations such as monobenzone causing irreversible depigmentation and hydroquinone banned by the FDA as a carcinogen.

4.2 L-cysteine ​​peptide

Another ingredient promoted for skin whitening is the L-cysteine ​​peptide, which is claimed to be 3-5 times more potent than GSH and approved by the BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drug). Natural sources of L-cysteine ​​include poultry, yogurt, egg yolks, red pepper, garlic, onions, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, oats, and wheat germ. High levels of L-cysteine ​​reduce tyrosinase activity and produce more pheomelanin, which helps to lighten skin tone. Therefore, L-cysteine ​​peptides are promoted as oral whitening ingredients, although there is not much scientific evidence to support them.

4.3 Tranexemic acid

General information

Tranexemic acid (trans-4-aminomethyl cyclohexane carboxylic acid), a plasmin inhibitor, is commonly used as a hemostatic agent due to its antifibrinolytic properties. Currently, it is used as oral or intradermal whitening agent for melasma. The skin whitening effect of tranexamic acid was found incidentally when it was used in the treatment of aortic aneurysm subpleural hemorrhage. It is a synthetic derivative of lysine.

Mechanism of action

Tranxemic acid helps to reduce melanocyte melanin synthesis activity and the effects of ultraviolet rays.

Use of doses equal to or less than 250 mg twice a day for at least 3 months for the treatment of melasma has been found to be effective.

Contraindications

However, the drug is not safe to use it for a long time because the anticoagulant effect can easily lead to side effects such as: venous thrombosis, myocardial infarction , cerebrovascular accident and pulmonary embolism.

Tranexemic acid is contraindicated in patients with acquired color blindness, active vascular occlusion, and allergy to tranexemic acid.

Tranexemic acid has been studied to have a good synergistic effect when combined with ascorbic acid or its derivatives and L-cysteine.

4.4 Polypodium Leucotomos

Polypodium leucotomos water-soluble extract, also known as Fernblock® (IFC, Industrial Farnacéutica Cantabria, SA, Madrid, Spain), is obtained from a species of fern native to Central and South America. P leucotomos contains polyphenols such as cinnamic, ferulic and chlorogenicacids). They have a cytoprotective effect by preventing photodamage such as keratinocyte death. At the same time, it reduces the degradation of extracellular components and dermal structures. Reduces local inflammatory processes that cause hyperpigmentation.

PLE taken orally at 240 mg three times daily in combination with SPF 55 sunscreen every morning for 12 weeks for the treatment of melasma showed significant efficacy. However, scientists believe that P. leucotomos has a major effect on sun protection, rather than correcting hyperpigmentation after a lot of sun exposure.

Because it is an active ingredient extracted from plants, P. leucotomos has a high degree of safety.

4.5 Procyanidins

Procyanidin is a flavonoid, a plant-derived polyphenol, found abundantly in the bark of the starfish pine tree. This substance has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, this is an active ingredient with high safety.

They are effective against light-induced free radicals and reduce local inflammation. Therefore, procyanidin will reduce melanin synthesis.

This active ingredient has been used with success to treat melasma in Asia. Oral administration is well absorbed. The side effects are less such as fatigue, headache and digestive upset. Scientific studies show that this ingredient is effective in lightening the skin, but the effect does not seem to be high.

4.6 Carotenoids

Carotenoids are lipid-soluble pigments of plant and animal origin, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These pigments can be converted to vitamin A in the human body (provitamin) or not converted (non-provitamin). Lutein and zeaxanthin are two compounds belonging to the xanthophyll subgroup of the non-vitamin A carotenoids and other carotenoids. At high doses, carotenoids are concentrated in the skin and have a protective effect by absorbing UVA and UVB rays. At the same time it also quenches the free radicals caused by UV rays and reduces the production of free radicals. See more articles:  Uses and ingredients of sunscreens.

The researchers obtained results that demonstrated a significant improvement in skin tone, minimizing skin redness. Thus proving that carotenoids have the ability to lighten the skin. Carotenoids are natural and have very few side effects. At concentrations as high as 20 mg/day, carotenoids can cause a yellow to orange skin color, which is reversible upon discontinuation of carotene.

4.7 Other skin lightening oral active ingredients

High doses of vitamin C , hyaluronic acid, epidermal growth factor and a combination of many natural extracts (natural collagen extract, bearberry extract, etc.) are also promoted for skin whitening in pill form. However, there is no scientific evidence for this.

Proanthocyanidin rich extract from grape seed, pomegranate extract rich in ellagic acid and coumarin. In addition, extracts from the Angelica dahurica plant have been conducted in several studies. The results show that they reduce the synthesis of melanin and bring about a skin lightening effect.

Thus, you can see that there are many active ingredients that can be used in skin lightening pills. There are high efficiency bearing types, there are low efficiency ones. And importantly, they also have notes about side effects and contraindications. So what is the safe, effective and suitable skin lightening pill for you? If you are confused, immediately contact SignsSymptomsList for advice from dermatologists.

Dr. Huynh Thi Nhu My