History and Early Treatments
entation
The “ Why ” Behind iS Clinical ’ s Brightening Duo
by Dacia Adamczyk
History and Early Treatments
Since ancient times , humans have been intrigued by pigmentary abnormalities and have recorded their findings . “ In the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus ( 1500 BCE ) there are descriptions of individuals with white spots on the skin , i . e ., a recognition of skin color and its disorders .” 2 Similar descriptions have been found in ancient Indian , Japanese , and Greek literature dating back thousands of years . In the Middle Ages , it was discovered that the origin of skin pigment lies in the lowest layers of the epidermis . However , it wasn ’ t until the invention of the microscope in the 17 th century that the study of the microscopic structure of human tissues , known as histology , could be properly conducted .
Skin histology and pigmentary disorders continue to be a topic of great interest in the aesthetic and medical communities , leading to advancements like “ virtual ” skin biopsies that allow less invasive testing and more rapid diagnoses of suspicious-looking skin lesions . 1
In the United States , the practice of skin “ whitening ” became popular in the 1800s as American women began utilizing European practices to lighten their skin . Early attempts to improve the appearance of uneven pigment included the topical application of substances including arsenic , borax , sulfur , iodine , potassium , and sodium hydroxide . “ These were prepared in complex formulations , some of which were
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