Experts in skincare have raised concerns over the widespread use of skin-bleaching products in Nigeria, warning of severe health risks, particularly among women seeking a lighter complexion.
Prof. Dasetima Altraide, President of the Nigerian Association of Dermatologists, and Folawewo David, a skincare specialist, issued the warning in interviews on Sunday in Lagos, describing the trend as a ticking time bomb.
Nigeria tops global bleaching statistics
According to the 2023 World Health Organisation (WHO) Fact Sheet, Nigeria has the highest prevalence of skin bleaching globally, with 77% of Nigerian women using skin-lightening products. The data also highlights societal pressures as a major driver, as lighter skin is often associated with beauty, success, and wealth.
Bleaching destroys the skin, not maintains It
Altraide, who is also the Chairman of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Management Board, described the rate of bleaching in Nigeria as alarming, stressing that its consequences are dire.
He debunked the common misconception that bleaching “maintains” complexion, warning that it instead damages the skin over time.
“They want to maintain their colour, forgetting that during the sunny season, everyone naturally gets darker,” he explained.
Altraide further outlined the dangers of bleaching, including: Stretch marks and congenital infections, Hypertension, diabetes, and severe skin damage caused by steroid-based creams, Thinning of the skin, leading to slow-healing wounds, and Kidney problems and hormonal imbalance
“When you bleach, you are essentially creating wounds that go deep into the skin,” he warned.
To combat the trend, Altraide advocated for intensified public sensitization and recommended moisturizers and microcinnamide as safer alternatives for skin maintenance.
The psychological and health impacts of bleaching
David, Lead Aesthetician at Wewoaesthetics Spa, linked the rise in bleaching to low self-esteem, self-hatred, and societal misconceptions that lighter skin equals beauty.
She cautioned that bleaching products contain harsh chemicals, which penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, leading to severe health risks such as: Hormonal imbalance and thyroid problems, Adrenal fatigue and estrogen dominance, Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and infertility, and Skin cancer.
David emphasized the need for increased awareness and stricter regulations on skincare products to address the growing menace of bleaching.
She urged the government to: Ban harmful bleaching products and enforce stricter regulations, Educate the public on the risks of bleaching, and Encourage natural, healthy skincare practices
“There is an urgent need for serious awareness on the dangers of skin bleaching,” she stressed.
(NAN)
