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History

Pornographic film actresses were the first to undergo the anal bleaching process, in an effort to lighten the color of their anuses to match the rest of their skin.¹ As Brazilian waxing became popular, due to the popularity of smaller swimsuits and lingerie, the spread of pornography into the mainstream, and endorsement of the procedure by celebrities,² women began noticing that their anuses were darker than the rest of their skin.³ The increase in the number of women engaging in anal sex has also contributed to women's concern over the appearance of their anuses.⁴ As a result of this perceived problem, anal bleaching began to gain appeal.⁵ Some gay men also make use of the procedure.⁶⁷

The treatment was first offered in the US in California in 2005; it was reported to be available at the same time in Australia.⁸ Spas outside of Hollywood were slow to begin offering it as a beauty treatment, with just one New York spa offering the service by 2007.⁹ Creams are now sold for use at home.¹⁰ Although the popularity of anal bleaching has not approached that of Brazilian waxing, it received mainstream recognition in the US in the 2010s.

Methods

There are several methods to carry out the anal lightening process. The most common method is to simply use an at-home lotion or gel to target the darkened anal and genital area and gradually fade the darkened area over time.

Chemicals

Many early cosmetics designed for anal bleaching contained ingredients that would irritate the sensitive anal area, creating temporary discomfort and even burning, scarring, or incontinence.¹¹ However, modern products are more likely to be designed with sensitive skin in mind, and are aimed at producing lightening effects without irritation.

Hydroquinone

The process performed with creams containing hydroquinone is banned in some countries, such as the member states of the EU.¹² In 2006, the FDA removed previous advice that stated hydroquinone was considered generally safe, as hydroquinone has been linked to ochronosis, where skin becomes permanently discoloured and disfigured, and because it may also be a carcinogen.¹³ All over-the-counter (OTC) sales over hydroquinone were banned in the US with the CARES Act of 2020 and a prescription is now required for purchase.¹⁴

Acids

Other principal ingredients that are used in skin lightening cosmetics are arbutin and kojic acid.¹⁵ Arbutin, often also called bearberry, can be converted by the body into hydroquinone.¹⁶

Kojic acid was developed as a safer alternative to hydroquinone, however it is less effective at lightening and also carcinogenic.¹⁷

Azelaic acid is another option.

Mercury

Mercury was commonly used as a skin lightening agent. However, due to the known hazards of mercury (renal damage, neurotoxicity, anxiety and depression),¹⁸¹⁹ the FDA has prohibited mercury in cosmetic products since 1974,²⁰ except for trace amount below 1 ppm (21CFR'700.13).

In popular culture

The procedure was briefly shown in 2004 in an episode of Cosmetic Surgery Live.²¹ One salon that performed the procedure received an increase in queries in 2005 attributed to an episode of Dr. 90210 on E!, when porn star Tabitha Stevens was filmed having her anus bleached.²²

See also

• Labiaplasty
• Vajazzle

References

1. "The Scary New Butt Beauty Trend". Cosmopolitan. 3 August 2011. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/advice/a3634/anal-bleaching-trend/ ↩

2. "The New Full-Frontal: Has Pubic Hair in America Gone Extinct?". The Atlantic. 13 December 2011. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/12/the-new-full-frontal-has-pubic-hair-in-america-gone-extinct/249798/ ↩

3. "The Scary New Butt Beauty Trend". Cosmopolitan. 3 August 2011. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/advice/a3634/anal-bleaching-trend/ ↩

4. "The Scary New Butt Beauty Trend". Cosmopolitan. 3 August 2011. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/advice/a3634/anal-bleaching-trend/ ↩

5. "Anal Bleaching: From Porn Trend to Mainstream (Un)Necessary Evil". LA Weekly. 8 February 2012. http://www.laweekly.com/columns/anal-bleaching-from-porn-trend-to-mainstream-un-necessary-evil-2529810 ↩

6. "Is Anal Bleaching for You?". Marie Claire. 21 July 2011. http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/advice/a712/anal-bleaching/ ↩

7. "Britesmile for Bungholes". The Village Voice. 5 July 2005. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080709162751/http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-07-05/columns/britesmile-for-bungholes/ ↩

8. "Britesmile for Bungholes". The Village Voice. 5 July 2005. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080709162751/http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-07-05/columns/britesmile-for-bungholes/ ↩

9. "Ass you like it". Time Out New York. 11 October 2007. http://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/ass-you-like-it ↩

10. "Once You Go White". Next Magazine. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150123161258/http://www.nextmagazine.com/content/once-you-go-white ↩

11. "Once You Go White". Next Magazine. 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150123161258/http://www.nextmagazine.com/content/once-you-go-white ↩

12. "Skincare: Skin lightening products". Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association. Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20150123180529/http://www.thefactsabout.org.uk/content.asp?menuid=32&submenuid=136&pageid=136&menuname=Skin+lightening+products&menu=sub ↩

13. "Hydroquinone Studies Under The National Toxicology Program (NTP)". Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofMedicalProductsandTobacco/CDER/ucm203112.htm ↩

14. "CARES Act Legislation Halting Sales of OTC Hydroquinone is Now in Effect". 11 January 2021. https://www.medestheticsmag.com/news/news/21220481/acara-partners-cares-act-legislation-halting-sales-of-otc-hydroquinone-is-now-in-effect ↩

15. "Skincare: Skin lightening products". Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association. Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20150123180529/http://www.thefactsabout.org.uk/content.asp?menuid=32&submenuid=136&pageid=136&menuname=Skin+lightening+products&menu=sub ↩

16. "Chemical Information Review Document for Arbutin [CAS No. 497-76-7] and Extracts from Arctostaphylos uva-ursi" (PDF). National Toxicology Program. January 2006. http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/arbutin_508.pdf#search=Arbutin%20%20hydroquinone ↩

17. "Final Report of the Safety Assessment of Kojic Acid". ResearchGate. December 2010. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49688993 ↩

18. "Crème de blanchiment anal : quels composants et ingrédients ?". Blanchiment Anal (in French). 2021-03-24. Retrieved 2021-03-24. https://blanchimentanal.wordpress.com/2021/03/24/creme-blanchiment-anal-comment-choisir/ ↩

19. Mohammed, Terry; Mohammed, Elisabeth; Bascombe, Shermel (2017-10-09). "The evaluation of total mercury and arsenic in skin bleaching creams commonly used in Trinidad and Tobago and their potential risk to the people of the Caribbean". Journal of Public Health Research. 6 (3): 1097. doi:10.4081/jphr.2017.1097. ISSN 2279-9028. PMC 5736993. PMID 29291194. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5736993 ↩

20. "Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR)". Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). Retrieved 2021-03-24. https://www.ecfr.gov/ ↩

21. "Why actions speak louder". The Guardian. 19 September 2004. https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2004/sep/19/features.review57 ↩

22. "Britesmile for Bungholes". The Village Voice. 5 July 2005. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080709162751/http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-07-05/columns/britesmile-for-bungholes/ ↩