Skin Bleaching: Experts Reveal Nigerian Women Involved, Warn on Effects

Skin Bleaching: Experts Reveal Nigerian Women Involved, Warn on Effects

A recent research has shown that Nigerian women have been ranked as the highest users of skin bleaching creams in Africa.

THECONSCIENCENG reports that according to data from a recent study carried out by Cable News Network, women from Nigeria were the highest consumers of skin-whitening creams ahead of four other African countries.

CNN was investigating skin whitening practices worldwide as part of a series titled ‘White Lies’.

The study showed that 75 per cent of Nigerian women patronise whitening products while Senegal had 60 per cent, Mali 50 per cent, and Ghana 30 per cent.

Before the latest CNN study, the World Health Organisation, in a 2013 report, said 77 percent of women in Nigeria use skin-lightening products, describing it as the world’s highest percentage.

Skin bleaching products contain harmful ingredients -Physicians

Physicians say most skin bleaching products contain harmful ingredients like mercury and frequently applying these products to the body can mean exposing oneself to these harmful elements which increase the severity of the harm which can be caused by the products.

They noted that skin bleaching reduces melanin (a pigment that produces colour in human skin).

A Consultant Dermatologist and Venereologist at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Dr. Sebastine Oiwoh, disclosed in an exclusive interview that the damaging effects of using skin bleaching products were many, adding that the practice of skin-lightening should be discouraged.

The dermatologist said skin bleaching products were capable of wiping off the organisms that serve as soldiers to the skin, thereby leaving it unprotected and exposing it to infections.

Dr. Oiwoh noted that burns to the face caused by bleaching creams might be difficult to reverse.

According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, overusing skin-bleaching products can cause irreversible skin damage, and the skin might not return to its original condition even after bleaching has stopped.