Nigeria has been described as the “world capital of skin bleaching” or “the skin-lightening hothouse of the world.”
Skin bleaching, also known as skin lightening, skin toning, and skin whitening, is a common trend among women and young girls in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
It is believed that skin bleaching has a deep cultural and psychological root, as lighter skin connotes beauty and better prospects, especially regarding employment, marriage, and social standing.
The increasing quest for beauty through skin-lightening products has left most of its users with more dangerous health concerns such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, tumours, etc.,
This is a cause for serious public health concerns in Nigeria.
Data from WHO reveals that Nigeria has a skin bleaching prevalence rate of 77%. This is the highest in the world.
This implies that in every 100 Nigerians, 77 people use a form of skin-bleaching product.
The average prevalence rate of skin bleaching in Africa is 27%.
Globally, Skin bleaching is more common among women (44%) than men (35%).
In Africa, the prevalence rate among women is 25% – 80%.
Skin bleaching is more prevalent in young people less than 30 years old than in other age groups.
It is more commonly used in Urban areas (75%) than Rural areas (21%).
Interestingly, in a survey conducted by WHO, 49% of the women admitted to using it to ensure healthier and smoother skin.
Conversely, long-term skin bleaching tends to damage the skin rather than make it healthier or smoother.
Some toxic, damaging agents used in making skin-bleaching products are hydroquinone, clobetasol, alpha-hydroxy acids, betamethasone, hydrogen Peroxide, tretinoin, Calomel,corticosteriods, and mercury. Mercury has been described as one of the most damaging bleaching chemicals.
Some of these chemicals have been banned in some countries because of their danger to the human body.
A meta-analysis of the chemicals used in Skin-bleaching products shows that topical corticosteriods, hydroquinone, and mercury are the most common chemicals used in these products.
Studies have shown that mercury is one of the most hazardous chemicals, especially if it is in or on the human body.
The chemicals have been known to be very damaging to their users.
A survey of women in Africa using Ammoniated Mercuric Chloride contained in skin-lightening cream showed that a large portion of the women suffered from nephrotic syndrome due to the use of the bleaching products for one month to three years.
Other studies have shown that most women who have prolonged use of bleaching products have stretch marks, discolouration, tumours, acne, and fungal infections.
According to the World Health Assembly Resolution 67.11 (2014) of the Minamata Convention, Article 4 specifically mandates all convention parties to prohibit the production, import and export of skin-lightening soaps and creams containing Mercury levels surpassing 1ppm.
In Nigeria, the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has not considered a wholesale ban on skin bleaching creams but has adopted different measures to curb its influx into the market.
However, health experts have suggested that the measures are not enough and that more people should be educated on the health issues surrounding using skin-bleaching products.