Growth in skin bleaching is more in some parts of the world like asia, africa and in the middle east. Preliminary study on the skin lightening practice and. Investigating motivations for womens skin bleaching in. 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. Surprise, surprise the business of getting lightskinneded is booming over in africa via afkinsider reports its an unbelievable number. Pdf perception of skin bleaching among female secondary.
Pattern of skin lightening cosmetics use and perceived risk of skin cancer among undergraduate students of university of ibadan, nigeria 1ohaeribeatrice and 2ajani funmi oluyemi 1department of nursing, faculty of clinical sciences, university of ibadan, nigeria. The active ingredients in these cosmetic products are hydroquinone, mercury and corticosteroids. Jun 03, 20 the world health organisation, who, has said 77 percent of women in nigeria use skinlightening products, the worlds highest percentage. Twenty 20 skin lightening creams were purchased from different cosmetics shops in mushin and. Skin bleaching and dermatologic health of african and afro. The global prevalence and correlates of skin bleaching. Communication, taraba state university, jalingo, pmb 1167, nigeria. Skin whitening among cameroonian female university. Nigerias dangerous skin whitening obsession niger al. Nigerias dangerous skin whitening obsession niger al jazeera. Consequences of skin bleaching in nigerian men and women. But there is a dark side to these lightening products.
Skin bleaching rates in africa vary from city to city with 25% of adult women in. Yet, there is an increasingly genuine dependence that has grabbed hold of the two people in the nation. According to research by the world health organisation who, nigerians have been graded as the nation with the highest consumption of bleaching products. The figure compares with 59 percent in togo, and 27. 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.
While the history of skin bleaching can be traced to the elizabethan age of powder and paint blay, 2009a. Who is to blame for skin bleaching among young nigerians. Oct 11, 20 the business of beauty is booming in lagos, nigeria. 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. Nollywood actress ini edo joined the club not too long ago nigeria. Skin bleaching involves using creams which contains chemical products that are capable of whitening the. In nigeria, the history of skin bleaching may be traced to the period when race f irst appeared on the face of the country.
Here are the top 5 strongest skin bleaching creams in the market. Complications of chronic use of skin lightening cosmetics. Why do many african women continue to use damaging skinbleaching cosmetics that contain dangerous chemicals e. Skin bleaching pills are increasingly being smuggled into ghana via airport luggage. Nigeria has the worlds highest percentage of women using skin lightening agents in the quest for beauty. Jun 29, 2019 why skin bleaching is so high in nigeria wode maya.
The rise in smuggling caused ghanas fda to publicly warn against the dangers of skin bleaching pills. Before using, apply a small amount of this medicine to an area of unbroken skin. The use of skin lightening creams has become a socially acceptable phenomenon widely practised by both men and women in lagos, nigeria. As reported in a study, music media associate light skin with high status and confidence. Determination of hydroquinone content in skin lightening creams in. Nigeria has the highest percentage of women using skin toning products with. The practice of skin bleaching dates back over many years in different communities around.
Skin bleaching is a big problem in many african countries. Knowledge, attitude and practice of skin whitening among female. A report published by the new york times in 2016 revealed that there is an existing multibillion dollar industry for skinwhitening creams and bleaching pills all over west africa. Perception of skin bleaching among female secondary school students in ibadan metropolis, nigeria despite the social, pathological, physiological and psychological effects that skin bleaching presents, it has become a popular practice among individuals of different age groups, gender and religious affiliations in nigeria. Perhaps the goal is not to eradicate skin bleaching. Mercury and hydroquinone content of skin toning creams and. Skinlightening, 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.
Results the pooled imputed lifetime prevalence of skin bleaching was 27. They are popular in the caribbean, south america, asia, the middle east, and several african countries. 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. There is a growing trend in ghana where pregnant women are taking bleaching pills with the hope of giving birth to lightskinned babies. Continuous application of skin bleaching creams can cause skin cancer or acne, or lead the skin to lose its elasticity, meaning skin with more wrinkles. Mar 11, 2016 this perception encourages most women to engage in skin bleaching. Harmful effects of chemical skin bleaching and some safer. The dermatologist who expressed worry that the high rates of bleaching in nigeria may lead to an epidemic of skin cancer in future, explained that bleaching products damage the dna and once it is. May 06, 2017 melanin is responsible for giving black coloring in the human skin. What we see in the media is the lighter ones skin is, the better ones life, he said. Top 5 african countries whose women undergo skin bleaching. 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. Pdf media influence on skin bleaching tendency among.
Nigeria polled a whopping 77 percent compared to togos 59 percent. The increase in skin bleaching around the globe is a result of the merger. The plague of skin bleaching in africa how nigeria news. Dec 12, 2017 in fact, skin bleaching can be very detrimental to ones health and wellbeing. Skin bleaching and the selfhate polemic by christopher. The mango scented emma cardinelli dark spot lightening cream comes with 2% hydroquinone and 6% glycolic acid which help in fading dark spots, rosacea, melasma, and uneven.
Skin whitening is a term used for lightening the complexion of the skin through artificial means like creams, lotions, soaps and injections. 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. How to prevent skin bleachingrelated injuries, by olumide. 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. While the history of skin bleaching can be traced to. Osun state, nigeria, assessed the perceived risks and consequences of skin bleaching among undergraduates in higher institutions in osun. 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 fairskin tones. Jan 12, 2017 a 2015 world health organization report has it that nigeria has the highest number of women bleaching their skin in africa. Hydroquinone content, skin lightening creams, usp specification, nafdac regulation. Skin bleaching has grown so much that it has become a multi billion naira industry worldwide. Respondents were further asked if they underwent extensive treatment for their skin disease. The major reason skin bleaching is popular in nigeria is due to the following reasons.
Colonialsim and apartheid bamako, mali being users to 70% in lagos, nigeriade souza, 2008. Bleaching pills to lighten their babies skins, a growing. Skin lightening bleaching cosmetics and toiletries are widely used in most african countries. The promotion of skinbleaching products in jamaica. The cosmetic use of chemical agents to lighten the complexion of ones skin, also referred to as skin whitening, skin lightening, andor skin bleaching, is currently a widespread global phenomenon.
Why do many african women continue to use damaging skin bleaching cosmetics that contain dangerous chemicals e. Nigerias dangerous skin whitening obsession lipstick alley. It is now known that chemical bleaching can lead to serious skin and health conditions which include. 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. Pattern of skin lightening cosmetics use and perceived. Several chemicals have been shown to be effective in skin whitening, while some have proven to be toxic or have questionable safety profiles. 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. 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. The women cnn spoke with in one beauty shop say for them, it doesnt matter. Perception of skin bleaching among female secondary school.
International journal of basic, applied and innovative research. The world health organization who as the country regards nigeria with the highest prevalence of the skin bleaching practice globally. Hydroquinone and mercurycontaining skin products work by blocking melanin. This is one of the strongest skin lighteners in the market. The world health organization has reported that nigerians are the highest users of skin bleaching creams. Skin bleaching in nigeria it is testing that nigeria is right now confronting a pandemic of medication misuse and inadmissible rates of suicide. There are many skin bleaching creams used in africa, asia, and also in europe.
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. Jun 01, 2016 nigeria also faces a skin bleaching epidemic. The increase in skinbleaching around the globe is a result of the merger. Whether you seek to even out your skin tone or jump through a few shades to the lighter side, you need all the information you can get. Skin lightening products are unbelievably popular in nigeria. Lack of regulation of skin bleaching products in most african cities is an increasing concern. 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. Follow all directions on the product package, or use as directed by your doctor. Williams, 1957, in its current manifestations, skin bleaching. Determination of hydroquinone content in skinlightening creams in. Inside the dark world of skin lightening and bleaching. Out of 22 respondents who had a skin problem from lightening product application, the majority of them had skin peeling, 59.
Pdf media influence on skin bleaching tendency among female. Isima sobande was in medical school when she first heard of mothers who bleached the skin of. Several additives conconctions are used to enhance the bleaching effect. Several chemicals have been shown to be effective in skin whitening, while some have proven to be toxic or have. Mar 28, 2014 watch why nigerian girls bleach their skin,some because of peer pressure and lack of confidence. The skin bleaching pandemic in nigeria has been on an all time high in the last 10 years. When skin bleaching cream is applied on the skin, the effectiveness of the pigment is hindered. 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. 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. Pdf an epidemiological survey of the use of cosmetic skin. Skin bleaching in nigerians has dermatologic, medical, surgical.
Paying a high price for skin bleaching africa renewal. In nigeria, the history of skin bleaching may be traced to the period when race first appeared on the face of the country. Although many men bleach their skin in some region of africa, skin bleaching is more prevalent amongst women ajose, 2005. 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. 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.
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