Effects of Whitening Cream: A Cross-sectional Study in Tertiary Care Setting
Shazia Bano
Department of Dermatology, PUMHS, Pakistan.
Munazzah Meraj *
Department of Biochemistry, IPRS, PUMHS, Pakistan.
Hafiz Bashir Ahmed
Department of Dermatology, LUMHS Jamshoro, Pakistan.
Tabinda Taqi
Department of Physiology, PUMHS, Pakistan.
Mubeena Laghari
Department of Biochemistry, LUMHS, Pakistan.
Farhan Mir
ISD Karachi, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: To determine the side effects of skin whitening creams in a tertiary care facility.
Methodology: The current cross-sectional study was conducted at the department of dermatology, Peoples University of Medical & Health Science for Women Nawabshah (PUMHSW), Sindh, Pakistan from January 2019 to July 2019. A total of 140 consecutive patients were included in the study matching the inclusion criteria. All the demographic clinical variables and follow-up data were recorded on a proforma designed for the study, the data collected were statistically analyzed and the results were tabulated.
Results: In this study we observed various side effects in patients who used whiting creams. Redness showed in 81 patients (57.85%), flushing in 86 patients (61.42%), sensitivity in 99 patients (7.14%), acne in 52 patients (37.14%), thinning of skin in 77 patients (55%), pigmentation in 67 patients (47.85%),telangiectasiain 43 patients (30.71%), wrinkles in 33 patients (23.57%), and hirsutism in 44patients (31.43%).
Conclusion: We concluded that whitening creams used in our facilityare strongly associated with several cutaneous side effects.
Keywords: Whitening cream, acne, pigmentation, wrinkles