The growing trend of skin-lightening in parts of the world, especially in Africa, is now a source of worry to health experts. Woman Editor, TEMITOPE DAVID-ADEGBOYE, takes a look at the health implications of this risky act.
After carefully washing her body with a soap concoction, Sola Akinwunmi painstakingly and vigorously rubs cream (another mixture) all of over her body, with emphasis on her face. At 28, single and seriously searching for a life partner, Akinwunmi believes that attaining a lighter complexion would attract more men, especially the opulent. According to her, she spends a substantial amount on cheap soaps and creams that promise to lighten her skin.
This has been her daily routine for the past five years. Now several shades lighter, she says her new skin makes her feel more attractive, beautiful and confident.
Ordinary Nigerians are not the only ones that engage in this act; celebrities have been accused of also engaging in it as well. Prominent among them is Dencia, a Nigerian-Camerounian pop artiste, who launched a skin cream called Whitenicious, a product that critics say promote skin-bleaching. It costs $150 (N24,000) for a 60ml container.
However, Dencia claims that “the skincare cream is intended to remove dark spots”, and that it is out of her control if customers use it to whiten their entire skin.
Observers, however, say when one compares a past picture of Dencia to what she looks like now, the difference is a far cry.
Defending her own drastically-altered appearance since she started using Whitenicious, the singer asserts: “I was never that dark in real life… And guess what? I don’t even care because critics are bringing me business.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Nigeria has the highest percentage of women using skin-lightening agents in the quest for “beauty” in the world.
In a skin bleaching snap survey conducted from February 3 to 5, 2014 and published on March 18, in Abuja, NOI Polls, an independent polling group, said the assessment result confirms the submission of WHO on the endemic nature of skin bleaching among Nigerian women.
“Latest snap poll results released by NOI Polls have revealed that 64 per cent of Nigerians are of the opinion that skin bleaching has become highly predominant in the country, especially among Nigerian females (97 per cent). This finding supports the claim by WHO that Nigeria has the highest number of women that use skin-lightening products in the world.
“The poll further revealed that despite the negative effect of skin bleaching affirmed by 83 per cent of respondents, the top reasons people still engage in the practice of skin bleaching are the need to ‘look beautiful’ (35 per cent ) and to ‘look attractive to the opposite sex’ (32 per cent).
“Skin bleaching was also reported to be mostly predominant among Nigerians within the age groups of 18 and 25 years (48 per cent) and 26 and 40 years (43 per cent). In addition, respondents identified some of the negative effect associated with skin bleaching to include skin cancer (35 per cent) and skin damage (25 per cent),” the polls report read in part.
In many parts of Africa, lighter-skinned women are considered more beautiful and are believed to be more successful and likely to find marriage. An ethnic group in Nigeria believes that, “fair na fine” (being light-skinned is beautiful).
It is interesting to note that it’s not only women that are obsessed with bleaching their skins; some men too are involved in the practice.
Africans are not alone, however. In India, the skin-bleaching industry is worth over $100 million (about N160 million) a year, and in South-East Asia, blepharoplasty, which creates a more western appearing eyelid, is common.
Ironically, majority of those who use skin-lightening products deny doing so. Indeed, shame and self-denial surround the practice.
Experts warns that skin-lightening has reached epidemic level in many African nations, as increasing numbers of adult women are engaging in the practice and many have even begun to bleach their children’s skin.
According to Dr. Ayesha Akinkugbe, consultant dermatologist and genito-urinary physician, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, bleaching comes with hazardous health consequences, as these creams contain dangerous and toxic substances such as hydroquinone, mercury compounds (a metal that blocks production of melanin, which gives the skin its colour), and topical steroids, which are capable of leading to liver and kidney failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, skin cancer, as well as severe skin conditions.
People who use skin lightening products expose themselves to high level of mercury. When they get pregnant, the mercury, which would have been absorbed by their skin, could adversely affect their babies’ growing brain and nervous system.
There is an evident difference between those who are naturally fair and others who have created it by using a concoction, in the unforgiving African sun. After a prolonged use, one common tell-tale sign is patches of ochronosis, a blue-black discolouration of the skin.
Dr. Akinkungbe, however, disclosed that a long term discontinuation of the use of such products could do a user’s body much good and, with time, return the skin to its natural tone.
Akinkugbe also disclosed that Nigerians must make it a duty and habit to read through leaflets or labels of skin care products for their ingredients before purchasing them, adding that creams without labels should not be bought.
Chemicals to look for include mercury, Hg, mercuric iodide, mercurous chloride, ammoniated mercury, amide chloride of mercury, quicksilver, cinnabaris (mercury sulfide), hydrargyri oxydum rubrum (mercury oxide), and mercury iodide or ‘poison’. Directions to avoid contact with silver, gold, rubber, aluminium and jewellery may also indicate the presence of mercury.
Rather than apply dangerous chemicals on the skin, she stated that diet plays an important role in attaining a flawless skin.
Her words: “Take away all refined food products and replace them with healthy and nutritious ones. Increase your intake of water. This helps keep the skin free of dehydration and so the look is healthy and unblemished.
“Take proper care of cleaning your skin. Choose the product that is natural and effective. Pay attention to exfoliating your skin from time to time, so that you get rid of the dead skin. Lastly, citric acid is natural bleach and will help you have a lighter skin tone without any side effect. You can make a face mask with lime juice, few drops of glycerin and flour to make a paste. Apply this on your face and leave for 20 to 30 minutes. Wash with normal water.”
