Why would anyone use skin whitening cream?

This really gives you all kinds of things to imagine, apparently some people who tan too much like to lighten their skin later on when they get older. And perhaps remove some of the damage caused by the sun in the first place. I am not sure if it is possible or not. And those who have a lot of freckles might find whitening cream a way to get rid of them or at least fade them a bit. I remember how my daughter who was fair and freckled hated that she wouldn’t tan and always set out to get a burn on purpose so she could tan. Not a good idea at all.