Fans are speculating on social media that mega-star Beyonce is lightening her skin after recent photos show her skin looking unusually whiter than usual. 

Last weekend, the 42-year-old diva lit up the red carpet for the US premiere of Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.

She sported platinum-blond locks and a silver gown, but social media users were more drawn to her skin tone. Fans on Twitter questioned if the mega-star has lightened her skin.

User @LibraGoddess106 said: ‘Did she bleach her skin. She is not this light.’

@OlympusPlatinum said: ‘Who is this white woman?’ Another user commented: ‘So she’s not black anymore.’

It’s unclear if Beyonce’s skin tone is the result of photo editing or lightening products.

Mega-star Beyonce stepped on to the red carpet last weekend with platinum locks and a silver dress. Fans speculated that she is whitening her skin

In older images, such as this one from 2001, Beyonce’s skin tone appears darker

But the images have triggered stark warnings by health experts – who have voiced serious concerns about celebrities ‘encouraging’ the treatment.

Dr Deetej Singh, dermatologist and founder of Sandia Dermatology in Albuquerque, New Mexico, told DailyMail.com that ‘messing with mother nature’ and lightening skin can have lasting health consequences, such as skin inflammation, discoloration, and even organ failure.

Skin bleaching involves rubbing products on the skin such as creams and lotions that reduce melanin, the pigment that gives color to hair, eyes, and skin.

People with darker skin have more melanin, though hormones and sunlight can also impact melanin production.

The treatment is also meant to minimize dark spots, reduce acne scars, and even out skin tone.

In 2021, fans criticized an ad campaign Beyonce and husband Jay-Z did with Tiffany and Co, which they said made her skin look lighter

In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deemed over-the-counter skin-bleaching products unsafe for use in humans due to the ingredient hydroquinone, which has been shown to cause skin discoloration, rashes, and facial swelling.

Excess amounts of hydroquinone could lead to exogenous ochronosis, a disorder that results in blue-black skin pigmentation.

Several products also contain mercury. Mercury-laced lightening products seep through the skin into the bloodstream, where the heavy metals block the production of melanin.

These products have been linked to organ damage, rashes, infections, coma, and death.

It’s unclear if Beyonce is actually using skin-lightening treatments or if her lighter complexion is due to photo editing

‘[Over-the-counter] treatments are highly unregulated,’ Dr Singh said. This means that companies can sell products with harmful ingredients, often not labeling them or using unfamiliar names like ‘calomel’ and ‘mercurio’ for mercury.

Dr Singh said this could be dangerous for consumers because they don’t know what they’re putting in their bodies.

Last year, health officials sounded the alarm over skin-lightening creams with mercury after a Minnesota mom went partially blind.

An official report found the unnamed patient had been using certain home-bought and imported products that had levels 18,000 times higher than the safe amount – even though this was not disclosed on the labels.

READ MORE: Doctors sound alarm over toxic metals lurking in beauty creams as Minnesota mom goes partially BLIND

A Minnesota mom went partially blind as a result of mercury poisoning after being exposed to the toxic metal in skin-lightening creams. 

In a 2014 study of 549 skin-lightening products found online and in stores, 12 percent contained mercury. Roughly half of the products were from US stores.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning can include poor peripheral vision, pins and needles sensations, lack of coordination, poor speech or hearing, and muscle weakness.

Skin bleaching has also been linked to skin inflammation, also known as dermatitis. Symptoms include skin redness, blisters, skin ulcers, hives, dry skin, swelling, itching, and burning.

It isn’t the first time claims of ‘white-washing’ have been made against Beyonce.

In 2021, the star and her husband, rapper Jay-Z, were seen in a luxury jewelry ad campaign (above). Fans accused the ad of lightening her skin tone and sending a ‘worrying message’ to fans.

In 2008, Beyonce faced controversy when her skin appeared shades lighter in an advertisement for L’Oreal.

And in 2012, a photo used to promote her album 4, released in 2011, surfaced showing the mega-star looking much paler than her usual tone – again sparking claims of skin-lightening filters being used.

Dr Gendai Echezona, anethesiologist and pain medicine specialist in Connecticut, told DailyMail.com: ‘If you want to even out your skin tone, a trusty healthcare professional can help with safe treatments – but that’s very different from lightening it.’

A representative from Beyonce has been approached for comment.