Nigerian women lead in skinbleaching – WHO

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 obsessWHO 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 unlabelled 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.”ed 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 unlabelled 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.”