Osun state, nigeria, assessed the perceived risks and consequences of skin bleaching among undergraduates in higher institutions in osun. Several chemicals have been shown to be effective in skin whitening, while some have proven to be toxic or have questionable safety profiles. Skin whitening used interchangeably with skin bleaching or skin lightening is the act of brightening of the skin complexion using substances, mixtures or physical treatments 1 2. Skin lightening bleaching cosmetics and toiletries are widely used in most african countries.
Consequences of skin bleaching in nigerian men and women. Caribbean people grapple with problem of skin bleaching. Skin bleaching in nigerians has dermatologic, medical, surgical, psychological, economic, social and cultural consequences. Other reasons why women indulge in skin bleaching is prostitution i. The concept of skin bleaching in africa and its devastating health. But there is a dark side to these lightening products. Skin lightening or bleaching has reached epidemic levels in many nations across the world especially in african countries like ghana, nigeria, mali, kenya and tanzania harada et al. Nollywood actress ini edo joined the club not too long ago nigeria. The world health organization has reported that nigerians are the highest users of skin bleaching creams. Although many men bleach their skin in some region of africa, skin bleaching is more prevalent amongst women ajose, 2005.
Cosmetic dermatology is no less intriguing than other issues. Mar 27, 2017 sadly, this fast rising trend doesnt even appear to have any end in sight yet as the bleaching circle continues to get wider. A report published by the new york times in 2016 revealed that there is an existing multibillion dollar industry for skin whitening creams and bleaching pills all over west africa. The skin obviously needs proper care so as to feel fresh, look smooth and be comfortable. The british skin foundation advises that hydroquinone can cause intense irritation and uneven bleaching of the skin, and mercury can cause increased pigmentation and severe itchy rashes. Jun 03, 20 the world health organisation, who, has said 77 percent of women in nigeria use skinlightening products, the worlds highest percentage. Jan 15, 2019 several african countries such as rwanda and ghana recently banned the use of skin bleaching products, doctor ola brown writes that banning these products will not solve the issue as long as fair. Skin whitening is a term used for lightening the complexion of the skin through artificial means like creams, lotions, soaps and injections. Addictive skin bleaching and its health risks the guardian. Skin whitening, also known as skin lightening and skin bleaching, refer to the practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to lighten the skin or provide an even skin color by reducing the melanin concentration in the skin. There is a growing trend in ghana where pregnant women are taking bleaching pills with the hope of giving birth to lightskinned babies. In this context, skin lightening products are appealing and has become a very profitable business. How to prevent skin bleachingrelated injuries, by olumide.
Skinwhitening creams reveal the dark side of the beauty. Skin bleaching involves using creams which contains chemical products that are capable of whitening the. In fact, the world health organization says that 77 percent of nigerian women use skin bleaching or skintoning cosmetics, something that dermatologists say can be damaging to skin longterm. They are popular in the caribbean, south america, asia, the middle east, and several african countries.
Williams, 1957, in its current manifestations, skin bleaching. Despite the growing body of research identifying the harmful effects of skin bleaching, this topic has received little attention in the field of public health. In spite of the danger, people use toxic creams and injections and pills to become more fair, in the belief that lighter. Investigating motivations for womens the authors 2011. Request pdf on nov 1, 2005, frances o a ajose and others published consequences of skin bleaching in nigerian men and women find, read and cite all. Complications of chronic use of skin lightening cosmetics. There are many skin bleaching creams used in africa, asia, and also in europe.
Skin whitening, also known as skin lightening and skin bleaching, refers to the practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to lighten the skin or provide an even skin color by reducing the melanin concentration in the skin. Jan 17, 2016 and if the goal is to understand skin bleaching enough to be able to curb, if not stop the practice, how useful would an individualized approach to skin bleaching be to the hundreds of thousands who bleach all over the world. The promotion of skinbleaching products in jamaica. Acquiring a lighter skin forms the basis of skin care and cosmetology in dark skinned people. Out of 22 respondents who had a skin problem from lightening product application, the majority of them had skin peeling, 59. The world health organization has released statistics of countries that bleach and nigeria has again topped the chart as the nation with the highest consumption of bleaching products. Michael akolawole, a cosmetic dermatologist and lecturer at ekiti state teaching hospital, said.
With nothing but fish farming feasibility studies at your disposal, it can be discouraging. Hydroquinone content, skin lightening creams, usp specification, nafdac regulation. There is a high rate of skin bleaching within south african women, according to blay 2011, one in every three women in south africa practices skin bleaching. Several chemicals have been shown to be effective in skin whitening, while some have proven to be toxic or have. Choose the best skin lightening bleaching cream on jiji organic whitening cream. Skin lightening, or bleaching, has reached epidemic levels in scores of nations around the globe, and especially in many african nations including ghana, kenya, tanzania, senegal, mali, south africa, and nigeria adebajo. Worried by the increase in skin bleaching among nigerians and unregulated sale of bleaching agents in the country, dermatologists have raised the alarm over the effects of the practice.
Skin bleaching products have become one of the most procured cosmetics in nigeria as the government have only done little to curb its unregulated sales. Oct 11, 20 the business of beauty is booming in lagos, nigeria. Nigeria, south africa, kenya, and zimbabwe have banned the import and sale of skin lightening products containing. Follow all directions on the product package, or use as directed by your doctor. But in ghana, some women are battling the social pressure on darkskinned girls to bleach. Skin whitening is used for aesthetic or cosmetic reasons to increase skin glow, radiance and vibrancy in. Fokuo submits that women engage in skin lightening because light skin is associated with higher status, privilege, and beauty, women feel the need to bleach their skin to look beautiful and attract highstatus mates. Jan 12, 2017 a 2015 world health organization report has it that nigeria has the highest number of women bleaching their skin in africa. Aug 11, 2018 skin bleaching in africa is gaining popularity despite many health risks. A new skinbleaching treatment that is catching on is the intravenous application of glutathionea natural antioxidant produced by the liver.
The women cnn spoke with in one beauty shop say for them, it doesnt matter. Pdf perception of skin bleaching among female secondary. Pdf media influence on skin bleaching tendency among female. While the history of skin bleaching can be traced to the elizabethan age of powder and paint blay, 2009a. How to start fish farming in nigeria is always a question for those who are interested. Background on skin bleaching the global production and marketing of skin bleaching. Wasting in children and participation in the preschool education in the urban rural kenyan set up. The concept of skin bleaching in africa and its devastating health implications. In fact, it has become a business boom for people who are in the business of bleaching items as estimates by global industry analysts indicated that the market for skin bleachers exceeded n150 billion globally by 2015. Nigerias dangerous skin whitening obsession lipstick alley. A study conducted in edo, a state in southsouth of nigeria revealed that 71% of females and 52% males actually use skin lightening agents. Determination of hydroquinone content in skin lightening creams in.
The world health organisation, who, has said 77 percent of women in nigeria use skin lightening products, the worlds highest percentage. Literally, people want to be comfortable in their own skin so they make use of a wide range of skin care products to achieve the desired result. Skin bleaching pills are increasingly being smuggled into ghana via airport luggage. Nigerian women lead in skin bleaching who vanguard news. Growth in skin bleaching is more in some parts of the world like asia, africa and in the middle east. Homemade concoctions, cosmetic products and dermatological products are used to decrease the melanin. Most of these bleaching cosmetic products contain different kinds of harmful chemicals such as hydroquinone, mercury, kojic acid and vitamin c, which can affect their health amponsah et al. Who is to blame for skin bleaching among young nigerians. Harmful effects of chemical skin bleaching and some safer. The practice of skin bleaching dates back over many years in different communities around. Skin bleaching is the practice by which depigmenting agents are used typically by people with skin phototypes iv to vi on a cosmetic basis, primarily to lighten normally dark skin. Abstract africa is considered a continent of mystery and intrigue with absurd concepts and beliefs. Inside the dark world of skin lightening and bleaching.
May 06, 2017 melanin is responsible for giving black coloring in the human skin. The business of beauty is booming in lagos, nigeria. Al jazeera reports that 70 percent of nigerian women admitted to using skin bleaching cream, compared to 59 percent in togo and 27 percent in senegal. In fact, the world health organization says that 77 percent of nigerian women use skin bleaching or skin toning cosmetics, something that dermatologists say can be damaging to skin longterm. Mar 11, 2016 this perception encourages most women to engage in skin bleaching. Several african countries such as rwanda and ghana recently banned the use of skin bleaching products, doctor ola brown writes that banning. When skin bleaching cream is applied on the skin, the effectiveness of the pigment is hindered. Why skin bleaching is so high in nigeria wode maya. It is now known that chemical bleaching can lead to serious skin and health conditions which include. Top 5 african countries whose women undergo skin bleaching. The active ingredients in these cosmetic products are hydroquinone, mercury and corticosteroids.
Why do many african women continue to use damaging skin bleaching cosmetics that contain dangerous chemicals e. Lightening cream in nigeria for sale prices on jiji. Nigerias dangerous skin whitening obsession niger al. International journal of basic, applied and innovative research. Nigeria, where wizkid is from, and senegal where akon is from, are countries both flooded with girls bleaching their skin simply because of such discrimination and being made to feel ugly if dark. Women in many countries use cosmetic products that lighten their skin, in pursuit of fairskinned beauty. This topic has done justice to skin bleaching or skin whitening as some people named it. Mercury and hydroquinone content of skin toning creams and. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of media and demographic factors on skin bleaching tendency among female students of the polytechnic, ibadan, aged between 17 and 25 years. The use of skin lightening creams has become a socially acceptable phenomenon widely practised by both men and women in lagos, nigeria. William freivogel and phil greer through television commercials, print and digital advertisements, magazines, billboards, and the internet, the ideal skin complexion represented in jamaican media is fair skin tones.
Skin whitening is used for aesthetic or cosmetic reasons to increase skin glow, radiance and vibrancy in addition to the lightening 1. In nigeria, as many as 70% of women admit regularly using bleaching creams. Objectives this study aimed to determine if such products are used in sweden in particular by pregnant women, furthermore to explore immigrant womens view skin bleaching. With many women having embraced the ideology that white is beautiful and superior, almost every cosmetic shop in the region stocks some form of bleaching pill andor cream. Skin bleaching also called skin lightening, skin whitening and skin toning refers to the practice of using chemical substances to lighten skin tone or provide an even skin complexion by lessening the concentration of melanin. Skin bleaching and white supremacy journal of pan african studies. Jun 29, 2019 why skin bleaching is so high in nigeria wode maya. The world health organization who as the country regards nigeria with the highest prevalence of the skin bleaching practice globally. In nigeria, the history of skin bleaching may be traced to the period when race first appeared on the face of the country.
Perhaps the goal is not to eradicate skin bleaching. Seventy five percent of traders in lagos, nigeria adebajo, 2002 oyo, 2001. Sep 21, 2012 in june 2012, the world health organisation released a report on the danger of mercury in skin lightening soaps and creams which revealed that nigerians are the highest users of such products. Pdf an epidemiological survey of the use of cosmetic skin. The concept of skin bleaching in africa and its devastating. Jul 04, 2016 i would like to disagree with the answer that attributes the rise of bleaching in nigeria to slave masters being white back during slave trade. Skin lightening has ended many lives, yet people are still lightening their skins because of the feeling of low selfesteem. These products includes bleaching cream, moisturizing cream, age defying cream, anti acne cream amongst others. The skin bleaching pandemic in nigeria has been on an all time high in the last 10 years. Nigerias dangerous skin whitening obsession niger al jazeera. Nigeria polled a whopping 77 percent compared to togos 59 percent. Meet the ghanaian women who are fighting skin bleaching youtube. The increase in skin bleaching around the globe is a result of the merger.
Skin bleaching is the use of creams, gels, or soaps to lighten the skin and is known to cause a number of injuries, many of which are potentially lifethreatening. I would like to disagree with the answer that attributes the rise of bleaching in nigeria to slave masters being white back during slave trade. Bleaching pills to lighten their babies skins, a growing. Skin bleaching products can also contain steroids, which thin the skin, as well as hydroquinone, a suspected carcinogen that is banned in some countries. Paying a high price for skin bleaching africa renewal. Perception of skin bleaching among female secondary school students in ibadan metropolis, nigeria. Investigating motivations for womens skin bleaching in. Aug 10, 2018 nigeria, south africa and kenya have all banned skin bleaching products with high amounts of hydroquinone and mercury, with the province of kwazulunatal in south africa urging people to reject all colonial notions of beauty. Before using, apply a small amount of this medicine to an area of unbroken skin. Nigeria has the worlds highest percentage of women using skin lightening agents in the quest for beauty. Skin bleaching has grown so much that it has become a multi billion naira industry worldwide. It is a multibillion dollar market in africa with nigeria taking the largest chunk. Knowledge, attitude and practice of skin whitening among female.
This regretably has far reaching devastating effects on health and. The rise in smuggling caused ghanas fda to publicly warn against the dangers of skin bleaching pills. Jun 01, 2010 skin whitening is a term used for lightening the complexion of the skin through artificial means like creams, lotions, soaps and injections. Jun 01, 2016 nigeria also faces a skin bleaching epidemic.
Respondents were further asked if they underwent extensive treatment for their skin disease. Preliminary study on the skin lightening practice and. The piece centred on skin bleaching ingredients, bleaching creams, causes of bleaching, and the adverse effects of bleaching. Communication, taraba state university, jalingo, pmb 1167, nigeria. Nigeria, south africa and kenya have all banned skin bleaching products with high amounts of hydroquinone and mercury, with the province of kwazulunatal in south africa urging people to reject all colonial notions of beauty. The aga khan university hospital, 00202 nairobi, kenya. Jan 05, 2016 skin bleaching treatments are a global phenomenon. Skin bleaching is a big problem in many african countries. According to the statistics recently published by who, 77% of nigerian women bleach, followed by togo with 59% while south africa with 35%.