Reversal (of skin whitening)

by Anonymous

I know this is the stupidest thing ever to ask anyone.. But, is their something out there, prescription or non-prescription, that reverses skin lightening? I know a friend whose skin has been lightened when she was a baby by her mom and its completely destroyed her skin. Her natural skin tone is supposed to be a Japanese skin tone mixed with some (what she calls) 'British beige' (I think she got that one from the fact that her biological dad is British). I know I am probably an idiot for asking this; but she needs to know. She has no internet access, no health insurance, so I am the only one who can ask these things for her.

Answer:

Hello, skin lightening is NOT permanent. Skin damage, when not treated early, can be a long term dilemma.

Skin lightening is NOT for young kids, much more for babies. I am appalled by the fact that her mother did that to her, because common sense will tell us that it is not appropriate.

You did not specifically mention what your friend's current skin condition is, or the extent of damage, but I want to guess that something was wrong with her baby skin that prompted her mom to do something about it. Lightening her skin was just a wrong choice at that time. Whatever damage it has caused her, it should have healed by now.

You may want to suggest to your friend the process of exfoliation to improve the epidermal (topmost) layer of her skin - to gradually get rid of the dull skin layer - by a weekly skin scrub or microdermabrasion done at home, or a glycolic peel by a dermatologist if it is worse. This will reveal a better skin layer. Moisturization is part of the regimen, as this will hydrate skin that is resurfacing in the process.

Again, skin lightening is only temporary. Once you stop using any skin lightener, your original skin tone will come back. So whatever general skin tone your friend has at present, that is her natural skin color.

Hope that helped a bit.

Maria