Effects of Whitening Cream: A Cross-sectional Study in Tertiary Care Setting

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.