What are corticosteroid creams?
Corticosteroid and steroid creams are prescribed by doctors to treat inflammation from skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. These corticosteroid and steroid creams contain powerful ingredients like Clobetasol Propionate, Fluocinolone Acetonide or Betamethasone Dipropionate. They also come with specific usage instructions because of the potentially serious side effects they can cause.
Skin lightening is a side effect of steroid creams
Many unscrupulous sellers have been selling and marketing steroid creams as skin bleaching creams. This is because one of known side effects of using steroid creams is the lightening of skin color.
The mechanics behind steroid cream-induced skin lightening is not yet known. However, one theory is that steroids may reduce the number of melanocytes or melanocyte activity in the skin.
Black market bleaching creams containing corticosteroids pose a hidden danger
Given that the sale of steroid creams for the purposes of skin bleaching is illegal, black market skin lightening products will not list steroids under their ingredients list anywhere on their packaging. Therefore, most dangerous black market bleaching creams go undetected. Thus, the detection and removal of these harmful steroid-containing skin lightening creams usually only occur after it is too late.
Examples of known skin lightening creams that contain corticosteroids |
| Bio Claire Lightening Body Creme contains the powerful steroid Clobetasol Propionate |
| Shalina Diproson cream and lotion contains two types of steroids, Betamethasone Dipropionate and Fluocinolone Acetonide |
| Esapharma Movate contains two types of steroids, Clobetasol Propionate and Fluocinolone Acetonide |
Corticosteroid cream use can lead to irreversible and devastating skin damage
Corticosteroid creams are almost unrivaled in their ability to quickly lighten skin color However, short-term results are just that - short-term. When these creams are discontinued, the skin will usually revert back to its original color eventually. Meanwhile, prolonged use of the creams can lead to devastating skin damage which is usually irreversible.
Prolonged use of skin lightening creams containing corticosteroids may lead to many skin problems:
- Thin and fragile skin
- Stellate spontaneous pseudoscars
- Strange stretch marks
- Folliculitis, inflamed hair follicles
- Skin rash, irritation
- Itchiness
- Raised bumps on the skin
- Excess hair growth
- Fungal or bacterial skin infections
Serious side effects to health:
Corticosteroids are absorbed through the skin and into the blood. Corticosteroids are also more rapidly absorbed when applied to the face, increasing their danger as this is where most people would apply them in order to lighten their complexion.
- Corticosteroids appear in breast milk. Corticosteroids in breast milk harms newborns by inhibiting their growth.
- Exogenous Cushing syndrome
Scientists still can't figure out why humans got lighter
In India, skin-whitening commercials raise questions of racism
Beyond the pale?
Sosa blames skin-colour change on moisturizer
How taking extra Vitamin C lightens skin
Going under the scalpel and the bleach creams in Mumbai
Smoking and darker skin
List of popular skin lightening / skin whitening creams
Melanocytes determine skin color
Skin bleaching in Jamaica (video)
Beware deceptive labeling in skin lightening creams
[...] Skin Lightening Articles Black skin, white skin, Asian skin – what’s the difference?Corticosteroid creams should not be used to lighten skinDermal versus epidermal hyperpigmentation: How deep does the melanin go?History lesson: lead, [...]
what if i only used the corticosteroids for like a month, will that still cause permanent damages?
Hi Joana, the skin is quite resilient – it should recover after one month of use, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
i use Bio Claire whitening Cream under my eye san hydroquinone for two days the day after I used a eye uplift serum , I now have mild redness and mild stinging and burning on the undereye bone area where I apply it. I’ve stop using it. what can i do about the irritation, will it get worst. When can I begin using my eye uplift cream again.
Hi tasha, the skin under the eye is very thin and fragile. If its reddened, its best to “baby” it back to health by either leaving it alone or applying some soothing natural oil over the area (like coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil). Avoid applying any store-bought lotions or creams. These contain chemicals and preservatives that might irritate or dry the area further.
You can use your eye uplift cream again once the area is healed.