Skin damaged from excessive bleaching
The World Health Organisation, WHO, has said 77 percent of women in Nigeria use skin-lightening products, the world’s highest percentage. The figure compares with 59 percent in Togo, and 27 percent in Senegal.
The WHO report said the reasons for this are varied but most people said 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, lighter-skinned women are considered more beautiful and believed to be more successful and likely to find marriage. 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 said lightening creams are not effectively regulated in Nigeria where even roadside vendors sell tubes and plastic bags of powders and ointments from cardboard boxes stacked along sidewalks in market districts. Many of the tubes are unlabeled as to their actual ingredients.
Qatar based Al Jazeera also reported that business is booming for shops selling skin-lightening products. A trader said, “About 90 percent of my clients come asking for skin whitening products,” adding “I sell it to them and give advice on what product is best for them and how to use them.”
WHO should go and sit down, every time Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria....our women are beautiful the way they are and the men love them too.Brown is BEAUTIFUL
ReplyDeleteHahahaha @Bumpy.. True talk my man... Cos even d white gals r sun-tanning to luk more brown like Africanz
ReplyDeleteIs WHO trying to say that Nigerian girls have low self esteem?!(Paragraph 4) I dont believe so
ReplyDelete77 percent? Hmmmmm!!! Where do they get their information from?
ReplyDeleteDon't mind dem,gone are the days when lighter skinned women are said to be more beautiful. It can't be 77 percent,cos am dark skinned Nigeria woman & proud of it too. I've never considered bleaching either.
ReplyDeleteThat 77 percent is mostly light skinned women trying to maintain their skin colour cos of darkening from the sun,for those who don't know abt sunscreen.
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