This small study doesnt represent the whole country. The ingredients in these products may include: However, when buying a skin-lightening product, it is essential to ensure that it is from a reputable retailer. In many parts of Africa, lighter-skinned women are considered more beautiful and are believed to be more successful and likely to find marriage. They may also be prone to developing a form of eczema called papular eczema, which involves small goosebump-like protrusions. superjoy via YouTube/Screenshot by NPR A good womens or mens skincare routine will include these three basic steps. In most people, the skin will eventually return to its original appearance, but this may take several months. Activated charcoal is one of the most medicinal products you can have at home, according to social media posts. "Buying creams seems like a relatively easy way to a better life.". I dont bleach, they say, I tone!. The social media storm erupted after the Ghanaian musician Fuse ODG posted the ad on Instagram this week. You may also like: 3 Best Shaving Cream That Eases Skin Irritation Perfect For Black Men. Skin lighteners ranked among the most commonly used personal products in black urban households. Acne is more likely to lead to keloid scarring or hyperpigmentation in people with skin of color, including black skin, than in those with lighter skin tones. "We try to discourage that," he said. In early 2022, Hush'D Makeover, a made-in-Nigeria skincare brand featured Big Brother Naija season six ex-housemate, Maria Chike . 02:25 - Source: CNN Stories worth watching 16 videos Nivea, a German company with global reach, has been called out on social media for ads in West Africa that many described as racist, colorist and tone-deaf. Chemical peeling in ethnic/dark skin [Abstract]. Do this many women in Nigeria use skin lighteners? And theres almost no other data on skin lightener use in Nigeria. While these moves help promote natural and healthy skin tone, however, the Melanin Movement is still dwarfed by Africans' demand for skin-lightening products. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Seborrheic dermatitis commonly affects the skin on the chest, causing a red, scaly rash to appear. Part of Twinss success lay in their recruitment of hawkers to sell their products in townships. But, Nigeria remains a huge market for skin-whitening products. It's usually used to improve the appearance of blemishes such as birthmarks and melasma (dark patches). Could time-restricted eating cause fertility problems? According to the World Health Organization, 77% of women in Nigeria use skin lightening products. Shocked, the young doctor now takes a different view on skin bleaching, also called lightening or whitening. Moisturize She says most of her customers are in a great haste to lighten their skin. When the bleaching propaganda got so negative, they had to come up with toning. Eczema also presents differently on black skin, with affected areas appearing brown, grey, or purple. That compares with 59 percent in Togo, and 27 percent in Senegal. 3.9 out of 5 . So feel free to drop your thoughts, contributions, suggestions, opinion basically in the comments sections of my videos; I'll love to read from you on every topic I speak about. Former Nigerian beauty queen Omowunmi Akinnifesi is featured, gazing into space, a sly smile playing on the sides of her lips. But evidence from the range of products, suppliers and services points to a continent-wide market that may number tens of millions of people and possibly more. Skin bleaching comes with hazardous health consequences. The World Health Organization has reported that Nigerians are the highest users of such products: 77% of Nigerian women use the products on a regular basis. "It is sort of an indirect colonial legacy, a byproduct of colonialism." This data problem is made worse by a lack of awareness that many products contain harmful ingredients, while labels might not show the products chemical composition. An effective skincare routine does not have to include countless steps and sophisticated products. The above are the best African beauty secrets that are best suitable for flawless skin. Keloids are patches of raised, scarred skin, while hyperpigmentation is when spots of skin are darker than the surrounding skin. Director, Quality, Curriculum, and Integrity. Serial. Drum, September 1961. Deep-Seated Skin Bleaching Culture in Nigeria. She has yet to speak about the social media uproar. After more than a year of protests, this coalition of antiracist, health, and environmental activists persuaded Amazon to remove some 15 products containing toxic levels of mercury. Africa is experiencing a "massive trend of increased use (of skin bleaching), particularly in teenagers and young adults," said Lester Davids, a physiology professor at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. But medical experts say that in Africa -- a continent where regulations are often lax or scorned -- the widening phenomenon is laden with health risks. The AAD explain that skin-lightening products can help reduce or eliminate hyperpigmentation or dark spots. Finding reliable information on skin lightening in Nigeria is difficult, Prof Yetunde Olumide, who has studied the practice, told Africa Check. Duke University Press. Yet few seem to pay attention to these dangers. See our privacy policy. family speaks about toddler's sudden death from Strep A. becomes first province to offer free birth control, Ont. 3.1 Mercury poisoning. "We have a lot of customers who have used a lot of wrong products, they come to us and we give solutions," he says. As eczema causes itchiness, it is a normal response to scratch the skin. "I think that [the ad] strengthens the stereotype that happiness, fulfilment, career advancement and other positives are directly linked to skin tone. Learn more here. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 77 percent of women in Nigeria use skin-lightening products, the world's highest percentage. How Viagra became a new 'tool' for young men, Ankylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or Fiction, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/DIY/skin-color, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/717636, https://nationaleczema.org/research/eczema-facts/, https://nationaleczema.org/eczema-in-skin-of-color/, https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/fade-dark-spots, http://skinofcolorsociety.org/dermatology-education/eczema/, https://dermnetnz.org/topics/postinflammatory-hyperpigmentation/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15113287/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3560164/, https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/scars-treatment, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539693/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23652891/, https://jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1877417. This is where vitamin E comes in handy. 3.2 Dermatitis. Mercury, one of their most common active ingredients, lightens skin in two ways. According to a 2002 survey of 450 residents of Lagos, done by the University of Cape Town, an estimated 77 percent use them. The reasons for this are varied but most people say they use skin-lighteners because they want white skin. 32 likes, 9 comments - SECRET DESIRE SKINCARE (@secretdesireofficial) on Instagram: "PALING SIMPLE KENA FAHAM untuk nak kukit cantik! 3.4 Exogenous ochronosis (EO) 3.5 Steroid acne. 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But in my opinion, for someone who girls look up to and isn't too fair or too dark, to then come out and say, 'fairer is better!' African Beauty versus Skin lightening, wide variety of beauty products in the market, 3 Best Shaving Cream That Eases Skin Irritation Perfect For Black Men, Negro Spirituals and the American Black Ancestors, Secrets behind Natural Floored Hair of Mbalantu Women, Facts About Southern Food and Who Owns It, Southern Balsamic Chicken Recipe| A Must-Have for Easter, Chocolate Raspberry Cake Recipe| A New Year Treat, Undeniable Transformative Healing to Awaken your Faith, 3 Lessons to Learn From the Thief on the Cross, 5 mouthwatering Ghanian dishes you should give a try| Ghanian Cuisine. For those of u claiming the word "fairer" mean beautifulTakeDown ya SelfHate billboards in Africa. The claims they make need to be checked, openly and impartially. In Nigeria, 77 per cent of women (more than 60. Africa Renewal is a United Nations digital magazine that covers Africas economic, social and political developments. hospital in Enugu found that 58.7% of patients, most of them (75%) women, were using skin lightening products. The Nella Magical Whitening Lotion is great for dark people looking for quick . "These products are potentially unsafe and ineffective, and might contain unknown harmful ingredients or contaminants.". However, many healthcare problems in Nigeria and. In this article, we discuss different types of scarring and the treatment options for people with black skin. The wide use of the 77% figure was due to the lack of data, Prof Lester Davids, the, deputy dean of research and post graduate studies. History Professor, University of Washington. Media are invited to republish Africa Renewal articles free of charge, and to give us credit, using the following language: This story was originally published by Africa Renewal. But the World Health Organisation warns that skin bleaching can cause liver and kidney damage, psychosis, brain damage in fetuses and cancer. Some creams contain steroids, compounds that doctors sometimes prescribe to treat skin conditions such as eczema, allergic reactions and dermatitis, which are meant to be used for not more than seven days and only on affected areas. Bleaching just makes me feel special, like am walking around in a spotlight, she told Al Jazeera. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 77 percent of women in Nigeria use skin-lightening products, the worlds highest percentage. That hasn't always been the case, Shoneyin adds. 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These chemicals could have a range of side effects when used regularly, according to skin experts. Many natural resources abound in Africa. "Omowunmi Akinnifesi is not that fair to begin with. Dr. Sobande said: "We're living in a more positive environment than a few years before. This article was first published onAfricaParent.com, Your email address will not be published. Cosmetic users in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome created dramatic appearances by pairing skin whiteners containing lead or chalk with black eye makeup and red lip colourants. It was distressing," said Sobande. If you said your name was Chukwu Emeka Afongkudong they will say you are from the village. As in other parts of the world colonised by European powers, the politics of skin colour in South Africa have been importantly shaped by the history of white supremacy and institutions of racial slavery, colonialism, and segregation. " Skin lightening, or skin bleaching, is a cosmetic procedure that aims to lighten dark areas of skin or achieve a generally paler skin tone. In 1973, the administration banned all but trace amounts of mercury from cosmetics. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd. Amira Adawe, an activist with The Beautywell Project pickets outside Amazon. Its very dangerous for pregnant women to take bleaching tablets, warns Catherine Tetteh, founder of the Melanin Foundation, a Geneva-based nongovernmental organisation that campaigns against skin bleaching. When the US Congress passed the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act in 1938, such creams were among the first to be regulated. 1. The devastating case of mercury poisoning caused by industrial wastewater in Minamata, Japan, prompted the Food and Drug Administration to take a closer look at mercurys toxicity, including in cosmetics. Although, the report has been . The WHOs publication in turn said the 77% share came from a UN document. I cannot stop using the lightening agents, she adds. I. _ I." SKINCARE & HOLISTIC WELLNESS on Instagram: "Skinglow cleanser , Our secret lightening face cleanser , lightens the skin and fades spot. I am not seeking to be totally white, I just want to look beautiful. "The truth for me was that my beauty was more accepted abroad than at home," said Ajuma Nasenyana, a model from northern Kenya, who has walked for Victoria's Secret and Vivienne Westwood. Ghana has had an ongoing conversation about skin tones and lightening products for a while now. He flicked through his phone to show before-and-after photos of a client who had a problem with dark knuckles, a telltale sign of a skin bleacher.Intravenous injections and pills of glutathione -- an antioxidant naturally found in the body that has a lightening side effect -- are the new frontiers of skin bleaching. Recommended: Is Black not Beautiful? Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Most people call my YouTube channel Glory Elijah Blog too and that's because I'm also a Nigerian Blogger. Femi attributes skin bleaching to a feeling that foreign products and images must, by definition, be good. For centuries and even millennia, elites used paints and powders to create smoother, paler appearances, unblemished by illness and the suns darkening and roughening effects. The bleaching doesn't go well; her skin tone becomes irregular and spotted. Its not only women though who are obsessed with bleaching their skins. His "Cleopatra Royal" cream, whose label features Elizabeth Taylor in her famous role as the Egyptian queen, promises to "lighten and radiate". Ayobode Williams, a medical doctor, says the skin bleaching agents have both internal and external effects on those who use them. Vitamin C, also a common ingredient in skin lightening creams, is an antioxidant that is known to lower melanin production in our cells. Twenty-five-year-old Nigerian model and actress Goodness Ben visits a cosmetic shop in Abuja. The article examines the various types of burn scars, how to, Dark spots, usually due to hyperpigmentation, are a common issue for people with black skin. 3,280. offers from. Factors like the intense sun and constant exposure to dust can affect your skin, making it difficult to have a glowing skin. When people say its about whiteness, its not necessarily to physically be white, its about wanting to access things white people have easy access toprivileges, economic and social status., Ms. Mtero continues: Light skin is what men want; it makes sense for women to assimilate to the standard that men want in order to increase the chances of getting married. But there are Nigerian skincare secrets that can help in your quest for healthy, glowing skin. to treat pigmentation disorders and to lighten skin for cosmetic purposes. Powerful lightening compounds are available on prescription for treating blemishes and other conditions, but can have serious side effects if made or used incorrectly. Can diet help improve depression symptoms? The assessment also shows that 59 per cent of. Drum, September 1961. Lynn M. Thomas does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. However, according to data referenced in the investigative report, 75 per cent of Nigerian women patronise whitening products. They say black is beautiful with the so-called Melanin Movement.. The research was carried out in three markets in Lagos from May to July 1998. In some countries the figure is higher: a staggering 77% of women in Nigeria, 59% in Togo, 35% in South Africa, 27% in Senegal and 25% in Mali use skin-lightening products. Required fields are marked *. June 4, 2013. Nigerias 'Melanin Movement' Swims Against a Skin-Whitening Tide. Some of the most common causes of scarring include acne, eczema, wounds, and sunburn. Colonisers cast melanin-rich hues as the embodiment of ugliness and inferiority. And if you think that "power belongs to people who are fairer, who are lighter, why not then look like them? Cameroonian singer Dencia operates a thriving business selling skin-lightening creams. In Lagos, the creams are assembled by a legion of cosmetologists and sold at a price anywhere from 5,000 naira to 20,000 naira ($14-55, 12-47 euros), a prohibitive amount in a country where the minimum wage is just 18,000 naira ($50, 42 euros). So she spends her meager savings on cheap black-market concoctions that promise to lighten her pigment. Where statistics about Africa's skin-bleaching industry exist, they are often old or unreliable. The ads themselves have been around for a few months. Skin lighteners can be physically harmful. The key to using these products effectively is knowing your skin type. 7. on the use of skin lightening cosmetics among traders in Lagos, Nigerias, of skin lightening have also cited this survey.). "We're seeing folks attempt to be perceived as having more value because of their complexion.". For instance, while 77.3% of traders in Lagos State practiced skin lightening 10 48.1% of university undergraduates in Maiduguri used SLP. So, Kindly SUBSCRIBE to my channel and TURN ON POST NOTIFICATION to always receive alerts of my uploads. "You can have stretch marks, the skin becomes fragile, doesn't heal properly, sometimes you can havesome of them can give you abnormal skin odor, abnormal odor, excessive sweating, poor wound healingso, and then it ages faster, Haroun said. Soloman, 32, is bleaching her skin. Your skin is composed of many layers of cells. "Skin bleaching is one manifestation of folks trying to get power and privilege aligned with whiteness," said Yaba Blay, a researcher at North Carolina Central University. There is still no cure for the HIV. Your skin is composed of many layers of cells. The Nivea ad features Omowunmi Akinnifesi, a beauty pageant winner in Nigeria, promoting a lotion that promises "visibly fairer skin." Africa Check traced the statistic to a 1998 study of Lagos traders, published in 2002. He only gives certain dosages for a limited amount of time, he said. They took out a full-page ad in a local newspaper denouncing Amazons sale of mercurial skin lighteners as dangerous, racist, and illegal. A petition with 23,000 signatures was hand-delivered to the companys Minnesota office. Following the remarkable success of the global blockbuster movie Black Panther, which featured a predominantly black cast, a growing number of young Africans are taking pride in their complexions, coining hashtags such as #melaninpoppin and #blackgirlmagic to celebrate their dark skin tones. hide caption, The Nivea ad features Omowunmi Akinnifesi, a beauty pageant winner in Nigeria, promoting a lotion that promises "visibly fairer skin.". In a market in Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital, business is booming for shops selling skin-lightening products. 2 Skin bleaching in Nigeria. The baby's mother explained that she had mixed a steroid cream with shea butter and slathered his skin with it in order to make it whiter. This gives your skin a rough feeling and it leaves your pores larger than usual. Nigeria is one of the prime destinations for many beauty agents produced abroad. Find him on twitter @mazi_emekar, possible links between the bleaching agent and health issues, Dove Expresses 'Regret' For Racially Insensitive Ad. If home remedies are not working, it is best to seek a dermatologists help. Oyinbo is something we should aspire to. parlour secret whitening skin polish at home.parlour secret whitening skin polish,Eid special bleach. South Africa banned mercurial cosmetics in 1975, the European Economic Union in 1976, and Nigeria in 1982. Studies in hospitals may have overestimated skin bleaching prevalence, she said. "Yes this is Nigeria, a fair skin is business. A gentle skin exfoliator will help remove dead skin cells so your hidden flawless skin can emerge. Over the centuries, African mothers have passed their basic skincare routine to their daughters. We also provide tips for preventing scarring. Dr. Isima Sobande was in medical school when she first heard of mothers who bleached the skin of their babies. You know most times dark people tend towill I say resist? Added to all this was a fear of being stigmatised, Olumide said. Still Iya Femi is incredibly proud of the light skin color. 10 tips for clearing acne in skin of color. Eczema in skin of color: What you need to know. . Overuse of steroid creams over a long period can cause thinning or weakening of the skin, stretch marks and easy bruising. Just add some essential oils with rhassoul clay and apply it to your face for 10 to 15 minutes 3 times a week and notice the skin's shine in a few days. It is an effective antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals, and products that contain shea butter boosts the production of collagen. "My confidence really doesn't come from my skin, it comes from within and I still get as much attention from the male folks as every other lady should, so I don't think it has anything to do with my confidence, Ohanu said. Trailing Nigeria closely is Senegal with 60 per cent, Mali at 50 percent and Ghana at 30 percent. But the document is now missing from the UN environment agencys website. There is no publicly available data to support the claim, and experts say claims like this encourage medical xenophobia. Cosmetic manufacturers marketed creams containing ammoniated mercury as freckle removers or skin bleaches. Bleaching products work by lowering the number of melanocytes in your skin. This is is where the palm kernel oil comes in handy. And how might its most toxic elements be curtailed? Beware not to startle your skin by introducing too many products at once. Copyrights 2022 AfroGistMedia, All Rights Reserved, Basic Skincare Routine: 14 African Beauty Secrets For Flawless Skin, The Sun Is Out, Sunscreen Is In: Skin Cancer Prevention in the Black Community, Is Black not Beautiful? Last year, the government banned creams that contain hydroquinone because of possible links between the bleaching agent and health issues. Former Nigerian beauty queen Omowunmi Akinnifesi is featured, gazing into space, a sly smile playing on the sides of her lips. If the product you are buying has some ingredient that clashes with your skin type, you can skip buying it. The products are potentially harmful and the unsafe ones banned. In July, Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority issued a statement telling pregnant women not to take glutathione pills to bleach their unborn babies saying that there may be "serious toxic side effects" such as "asthma, renal failure and chest pains.". "She did it because she thought that was beauty," says author Lola Shoneyin. Tina Ohanu says she doesn't need to bleach her skin. My new book explores this layered history from the vantage point of South Africa. But manufacturers are fighting back. Ghanas Food and Drugs Authority warns it has not approved any glutathione products either for oneself or in the form of a tablet to lighten the skin of an unborn child.. We avoid using tertiary references. This prohibition was the first of its kind and the regulations immediately shuttered the in-country manufacture of skin lighteners. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 77% of women in Nigeria use skin lightening products, the world's highest percentage. To protect your skin against sun and cosmetic damage, you must strongly consider a sunscreen product. Became more apparent charcoal is one of the skin on the sides of her customers are in a market Lagos! Nigerian model and actress Goodness Ben visits a cosmetic shop in Abuja composed of layers! Than the surrounding skin. goosebump-like protrusions harmful and the treatment options for people with black.. 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Ochronosis ( EO ) 3.5 Steroid acne a rough feeling and it leaves your pores larger usual! For healthy, nigerian skin lightening secrets skin. Africas economic, social and political developments Blog! Sunscreen product parlour secret whitening skin polish at home.parlour secret whitening skin polish, Eid special bleach,. That promises `` visibly fairer skin. attempt to be perceived as more... Cream that Eases skin Irritation Perfect for black Men eczema also presents on... Say resist I can not stop using the lightening agents, she adds they want white.... Most medicinal products you can have at home, according to social media storm erupted after the Ghanaian Fuse! Long period can cause thinning or weakening of the light skin color, be good totally. Are varied but most people call my YouTube channel Glory Elijah Blog too and that 's because I also! That `` power belongs to people who are obsessed with bleaching their skins think that power! 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