The Nation Newspaper

Tag: bleaching

  • Why bleaching must stop

    In 2015, the World Health Organisation released a report on bleaching that did not really surprise anyone.

    According to the report, Nigeria has the highest number of women bleaching their skin in Africa. Nigeria polled a whopping 77 percent compared to Togo’s 59 percent. Even outside the country, in far places like Dubai, business is booming for people who sell, among other cosmetics, skin lighting products. In our part of the world, one in every 10 dark skinned persons is now a patron of bleaching products, whether consciously or not. Most of us have come across at least one lady who attempts to whiten her skin. They are easily identifiable by the uneven patches of darker skin fading away and the dark colour still retained by the joints, the elbows and knuckles. Those who who successfully bleach look almost ghostly, because even with the new skin tone on top, there is an underlying layer of dark skin that makes them look slightly off-colour.

    Usually the preferred method is to use lightening lotions and soaps. Some may use stringent facial cleansers, body scrubs, and even anti-fungal creams in order to bring out their inner beauty. There are even rumours of a particular drug designed to help flush out impurities and lighten the skin. Disparaging comments are usually made verbally or on social networks about people who bleach. Somebody on Facebook once posted the question to his friends, “why do girls bleach?” The question, till date, is still valid. Why do girls – sometimes boys – bleach their skin?

    The first reason is the societal attitude towards fair girls. They are considered more beautiful. And why not? Their skin is more eye-catching than regular brown or dark chocolate skin. Light coloured skin is thought to be a sign of wealth, since maintaining it under this weather is rather expensive. This attitude is traceable to age-long impressions of inferiority in the average African towards the white man.  Another reason is the men. Most guys are more attracted to girls with light skin and seem to treat them with more respect. The music entertainment industry does not help matters one bit, by featuring half caste or white girls in music videos. That way, they poison the minds of the dark skinned girls who will now consider themselves not beautiful enough to be featured in these videos.

    Apart from this blow to self-esteem, bleaching has several dangerous medical consequences. Hydroquinone, a bleaching agent found in most skin lightening products, suppresses the production of melanin, reducing the skin’s natural shield against the sun’s ultraviolet rays increasing the risk of skin cancer. It also penetrates the skin and causes damage to connective tissue, inducing premature aging. Mercury, another toxin found in bleaching creams, causes cancer. Bleaching brings out rashes and unsightly blotches on the skin surface and weakens the skin so that it cannot be stitched when cut. If the chemicals are absorbed in the bloodstream they can cause organ failure and brain damage.

    The society needs a complete attitude adjustment concerning the meaning of true beauty. The phrase “black is beautiful” needs to be revived both in speech and action. The entertainment industry has a responsibility to promote the image of dark skinned Africans as the essence of true natural beauty. The rest of us have to learn to take pride in how we are made. The truth is that no one else will do it for us. It must begin with us.

     

    • Jennifer, Mass Comm., OFFA POLY

     

     

     

  • I’m not Bleaching —Foluke Daramola-Salako

    I’m not Bleaching —Foluke Daramola-Salako

    It is obvious that Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola-Salako, is feeling so uncomfortable, following accusations that she is bleaching her skin.

    Consequently, the mother of two, in a recent interview with a popular weekly, said, “I don’t know where that is coming from. I have never been a dark-complexioned person from time. I will never do anything that will be detrimental to my health for anything. Besides, I am a very beautiful woman from time, so I don’t know what bleaching will add to me.

    If I send the picture I took 13 years ago when I graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and the one I took when I graduated from the University of Lagos, Akoka, four years ago, it’s still my same fair self. So, maybe photoshop is doing something to the minds and sight of the people saying all that.”

  • ‘Skin lighteners dangerous to health’

    BLEACHING agents are are not friendly to the skin, dermatologists have said.

    Over 80 dermatologits from the United States, France, and 22 from Africa were at the the Fourth African Ethnic Skin and Hair Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya to deliberate on how to save Africans from skin bleaching.

    Issues affecting community dermatology, such as the burden of skin diseases, skin cancer in skin of colour, oculocutaneous albinism in Africa, use of sunscreens, needs and expectations of skin of color in African women, impact of soap pH on skin conditions, role of traditional plants, and probable genetic factors in central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia were discussed.

    The experts said ministries of health in Africa should embark on advocacy programmes to educate their citizens on the dangers of using bleaching cosmetics.

    They said the major areas of consideration for addressing the epidemic on skin bleaching, a major challenge to dermatologists in Africa is that it deserved urgent political action because of the devastating consequences of skin cancer, ochronosis, fungal infections, acne, and striae. Even though the conditions are preventable, they pose a heavy, serious burden on dermatological services throughout Africa.

    In a statement by a Senior Lecturer and Consultant Physician Dermatologist, Lagos State University College of Medicine/Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Dr Frances O. Ajose, the experts said they want African governments to take steps to restrict access to bleaching products that contain hydroquinone, mercury, phenol, resorcinol, and all forms of corticosteroids. That  governments should implement strict measures to remove all known skin-bleaching cosmetics from over- the-counter shelves; educate the youth about the dangers of skin lighteners.

  • WHO: Nigerian women lead in skin bleaching

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said 77 per cent of women in Nigeria use skin-lightening products, the world’s highest percentage.

    The figure compares with 59 per cent in Togo, and 27 per cent in Senegal.

    The WHO report said the reasons for this are varied but most people say they use skin-lighteners because they want “white skin”.

    WHO also said skin bleaching comes with hazardous health consequences.

    The dangers associated with the use of toxic compounds for skin bleaching include blood cancers, such as leukemia and cancers of the liver and kidneys as well as severe skin conditions.

    It said hardcore bleachers use illegal ointments containing toxins like mercury, a metal that blocks production of melanin, which gives the skin its colour, but can also be toxic.

    The report said in many parts of Africa, light-skinned women are considered more beautiful and are believed to be more successful and likely to find suitors.

    It also said it is not only women who are obsessed with bleaching their skins. Some men too are involved in the practice.

    WHO investigation showed that lightening creams are not effectively regulated in Nigeria.

    Many of the tubes are unlabelled as to their actual ingredients.

    Business is booming for shops selling skin-lightening products.

    A trader said: “About 90 percent of my clients come asking for skin whitening products. “I sell it to them and give advice on what product is best for them and how to use them.”

    Musician Femi Kuti said the use skin-lightening products have given rise to their own terminology. “When the bleaching propaganda got so negative, they had to come up with toning. Bleaching sounds too hard, now it’s toning. I don’t bleach, they say, I tone!” he said.