There is a connection between using skin lightening products and psychological distress: UP study

The desire to have fairer, whiter skin is nothing new in the Philippines, where skin-lightening products (SLP) have long been popular. These days, there are even more products to choose from, with local brands competing with international products.

A new study from the University of the Philippines Manila - College of Medicine revealed using SLPs is associated with the levels of psychological distress among Filipino emerging adults.

Conducted from January 2023 to January 2024 among people aged 18-29, the study said “a high frequency of SLP use is related to decreased levels of depression (20–24%) and increased anxiety levels (11-18%).”

According to one of its authors, Dr. Zypher Jude Regencia, this age group is more prone to higher levels of psychological distress, particularly depression, anxiety, and stress.

What Figures Show

The first quantitative study to demonstrate this association between mental well-being and SLPs among Filipino emerging adults, it looked at the association between knowledge of, perception towards, and frequency of use of SLP and psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) levels among Filipino emerging adults.

Out of 3,127 respondents, 65.3% (or 2,043) know the active ingredients in SLPs, while 64% (or 2,000 respondents) have a high perceived benefit of a lighter skin tone. 

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Of those with high perceived benefits of skin-lightening products, 21% are more at risk of experiencing severe/extreme levels of depression, the study said.

In terms of use, 1,065 respondents use SLPs once a day, while 630 people use it on a weekly basis. At least 261 people use SLPs once a month, and 308, once over the past three months. Only 863 respondents have never used SLPs.

Those who use SLP daily have their risk of having severe/extreme depression levels is decreased by 20%, while those who use it on a weekly basis have their risk of having extreme depression decreased by 24%.

According to the study, the use of SLP in Asian cultures "is particularly profound, rooted in the consideration that whiter skin has higher status implications."

"Societal norms play a pivotal role in setting beauty standards, and an individual’s essential cultural values may also influence their motivation to uphold societal norms (20). These representations of beauty in terms of skin tone in the media affect young people, particularly emerging adults, to practice beautification, such as using SLPs. Hence, some mimic their idol’s attitudes and model their actions and behaviors," it added.

Said Regency, "Feeling nila mas nagiging acceptable sila sa society kasi mas pumuputi sila. So, bumababa 'yung depression nila. If your social acceptance increases, 'yung self-value mo increases kaya bumababa 'yung depression." 

He pointed out the reduction of stress levels among participants who used SLPS once a day, saying   

"May protective influence 'yung use of skin-lightening products at least once a day doon sa Filipino emerging adults by 20 percent."

The Foreign Influence

The foreign standards of beauty have led to the desire of Filipinos to have fair skin since the colonial period up to the present thanks to Western pop culture. 

The Philippines was colonized by Spaniards and Americans, who were known for their fair skin tones, setting it as the standard,

The Philippines was colonized by Spain and then by Americans, Regencia noted, “kaya Western beauty is the ideal,” and white “as the color standard.” 

“The whiter, the better, right? So, with the use of skin lightening products, the social acceptance increases, thereby increasing their self-esteem, thereby decreasing their depression and stress,” Regencia said.

“Because of the pervasive skin color standard, we tend to compare ourselves. And by comparison, we experience psychological distress kasi sasabihin nila na 'Bakit sila, maputi (tas) ako, hindi?' And then, in terms of social standards, ang daming advantages ng being conventionally attractive in the Philippines. Particularly, ang unang makikita sa 'yo ay skin color,” he continued.

These days, there is also the influence of K-pop to contend with, Regencia pointed out. “'Yung heavy influence ng K-pop culture really dictated the pervasive use of skin lightening products among the Filipino emerging adults.”

What Needs to be Done?

With the use of skin-lightening products attributed to psychological distress, Regencia hopes for two things: regulation of the products, and better education about their skin color so people will learn how to embrace it.

The study author said safety use should be prioritized by a stricter regulation process of skin-lightening products by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Number one is safe. Hindi naman siya masama as long as it's safe. Kasi ang daming unregulated skin-lightening products,” Regencia said. 

“Maraming unregulated skin lightening products ang nasa online shopping, 'yung mga walang FDA-approval. Sana, there would be safe use of skin-lightening products, regulation,” he added. 

He also suggested that skin and body image perception lessons should be taught as early as elementary education. This will foster a healthier environment among children at a very young age.

“Kasi 'yung primary years ng bata, developmental period niya 'yan eh. So, doon mo talaga mai-ingrain sa mga bata at matuturo, the proper use of these products. Also, mental health, body image perception, beauty standards,” he said.

“And the way you present yourself in terms of skin color. So sana, there will be an education on this, skin diversity, and body image perception in the primary years, ng mga bata. Kasi formative years ng mga bata is very important.”

And then Regencia brings up the media. According to the author, more representation of various races in the media, empowers some of the respondents of the study.

“So right now daw, sabi ng mga respondents, marami silang nakikita na ang bida hindi lang maputi. Because of that, there is a gradual acceptance of skin color. 'Yung ganoong thought na nakikita nila sa Western culture na hindi lang pala maputi ang pwedeng maging bida nai-ingrain 'yun sa emerging adults na pwede rin palang maging bida ang hindi maputi,” the author said.

“So because of that, nagkakaroon sila ng perception na, okay, hindi ko na pala kailangan magpaputi ... because of the representation, their peers are more accepting,” he said. — LA, GMA Integrated News