ArticleJMIR dermatology2023
Skin-Lightening Product Use Among South Asian Americans: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.
Article in JMIR dermatology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Why are people cosmetic skin whitening? A systematic review.BMC public health · 2026Pooled it
- Associations between self-reported personal care products use and menstrual cycle length and regularity in a US digital cohort.Environment international · 2026Article
- A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Associations Between Education and Use of and Knowledge About Skin Bleaching and Skin Lightening Products.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2026Review
- Insights Into Skin-Lightening Practices of Hijra and Transgender Communities in India.JMIR dermatology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDespite their potential for adverse health effects, skin-lightening products remain popular among South Asian Americans.
objectiveThis study investigates attitudes toward skin tone and the prevalence and adverse effects of skin-lightening product use among South Asian Americans.
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study, recruiting and surveying 175 women or nonbinary individuals meeting the following inclusion criteria: (1) lived in the United States, (2) identified as South Asian, and (3) were raised by parents born in South Asian countries.
resultsOf the 175 participants, 55 (31%) respondents used a skin-lightening product before. Parental pressure to use skin-lightening products and decreased time spent in the United States were significantly associated with skin-lightening product use (odds ratio [OR] 8.51, 95% CI 3.33-21.78, P<.001, and OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52-0.96, P=.03, respectively). Although only 6 of the 55 (11%) users reported being aware of the potential side effects of skin-lightening products, 33 (60%) reported adverse effects, with acne, skin sensitivity, and dry skin being the most common. Users and nonusers equally endorsed statements associating lighter skin with increased attractiveness (P=.31), marriageability (P=.94), social status (P=.98), self-esteem (P=.73), and respect received from others (P=.74).
conclusionsThe use of skin-lightening products among South Asian Americans is common and linked to social and psychological factors. Parental pressure and cultural beauty standards may play a significant role in perpetuating this practice. This study highlights the need for educational campaigns about the potential health risks associated with skin-lightening and increased efforts to challenge harmful beauty standards.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.