Fact Check: Can whitening creams really help get flawless fair skin?

Hyderabad: A Facebook advertisement of a Korean whitening cream with incredible claims is being widely shared on social media.

The viral advertisement of a ‘magical’ whitening cream called OMI White Cream not only promises skin whitening effects but also claims to be a one-stop cure for melasma, damage from UV light, acne scars and dry skin for Indian consumers.

The advertisement also claims that Korean consumers went through a 10-day challenge and experienced great skin transformation. The ad also claims that the cream is suitable for any skin type with no side effects at all.

Sounds too good to be true. Let’s get deeper.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim to be misleading.

Skin tone depends on various aspects such as ethnicity, climate, geological factors, genetics and melanin. Melanin in the body produces hair, eye and skin pigmentation. The more melanin the body produces, the darker the eyes, hair and skin will be. The amount of melanin in the body depends on a few different factors, including genetics and how much sun exposure the person’s ancestral population had. Melanin absorbs harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays and protects cells from sun damage.

According to Healthline, “Skin bleaching refers to the use of products to lighten dark areas of the skin or achieve an overall lighter complexion. These products include bleaching creams, soaps, and pills, as well as professional treatments like chemical peels and laser therapy.”

It further adds that there are no health benefits to skin bleaching. Results aren’t guaranteed and there’s evidence that skin lightening can result in serious side effects and complications. From a medical standpoint, there’s no need to lighten the skin. But if you’re considering skin bleaching, it’s important to understand the risks.

We further contacted our expert Dr D Dinesh, MD FRCP to debunk the claim. He said, “Anything that comes easy, always comes in parts and at great cost. Unfortunately, this fad for fairer skin lightening has been there for ages and it’s a very unhealthy obsession and a fad. There are creams in the market which are being sold as skin-lightening creams.”

“The skin might become brighter at the time of application but these creams contain high-potency steroids. One of the side effects of steroids is to light the skin which is not a desired effect of steroids but a side effect. Steroids can get absorbed by the body through the skin and can cause stretch marks, weight gain, development of diabetes, cholesterol issues and addiction to the cream itself,” he cautioned.

“You can easily find out if someone has achieved a lighter skin tone through such creams or any other procedure as their blood capillaries will be visible and they will be very sensitive towards sunlight. Once they stop using the cream the effects reverse with more impact and the skin darkens even more. Your skin tone is not a condition that needs a cure. By using fairness cream you are treating something that is not even a disease or a condition,” he added.