Must read: The Sun Is Out, Sunscreen Is In: Skin Cancer Prevention in the Black Community. that regulation is easier said than done. Its not something you decide one day that I want to be fair, I want to be like Michael Jackson and you become Michael Jackson all of a sudden. Drum, September 1961. The above are the best African beauty secrets that are best suitable for flawless skin. To remove dry skin cells, its very important to exfoliate regularly. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. History Professor, University of Washington. Eczema causes itchy, dry, irritated skin. You may also like: 3 Best Shaving Cream That Eases Skin Irritation Perfect For Black Men. scar surgery. People with eczema often experience flare-ups that alternate with symptom-free periods. Known as the "Buttmaster" for helping patients seeking an hourglass figure, Ayobami buys the injections from companies he trusts in the United Arab Emirates or the United States. There is no innate issue with using many skincare products. We really look down on our culture and heritage instead of being proud of it. These professionals can offer advice on how to minimize the risk of hyperpigmentation after treatment. Africa Check is an independent, non-partisan organisation which assesses claims made in the public arena using journalistic skills and evidence drawn from the latest online tools, readers, public sources and experts, sorting fact from fiction and publishing the results. I cannot stop using the lightening agents, she adds. on inorganic mercury in skin lightening soaps and creams and its unsafe health risks. They may also be prone to developing a form of eczema called papular eczema, which involves small goosebump-like protrusions. Factors like the intense sun and constant exposure to dust can affect your skin, making it difficult to have a glowing skin. "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. We have included over 10 natural African beauty products you can incorporate in this routine for success. My new book explores this layered history from the vantage point of South Africa. In the 1920s and 1930s, many white consumers swapped skin lighteners for tanning lotions as time spent sunbathing and playing outdoors became a sign of a healthy and . 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. "The first time I saw the ad, I thought it was problematic," recalls Ayodeji Rotinwa, a journalist based in Nigeria. Where statistics about Africa's skin-bleaching industry exist, they are often old or unreliable. 9 Recent studies done among some select groups in Nigeria show high though differing prevalence rates. These selection biases may limit generalisability of findings.. They said the results backed up the WHOs finding . The rich tend to opt for pricier registered products which are available in standard doses. A person must also never use bleach to lighten their skin as this is extremely dangerous. Hashtags such as #skinwhitening and #yellowbone, advertising skin products that supposedly deliver immediate results and lead to a happier life, saturate social media platforms, especially Instagram. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 77% of women in Nigeria use skin lightening products, the world's highest percentage. "Skin-lightening procedures work by reducing the concentration or production of melanin . Click on image to buy original Nella Magical Whitening Lotion. The claims they make need to be checked, openly and impartially. Most people call my YouTube channel Glory Elijah Blog too and that's because I'm also a Nigerian Blogger. 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. 3.2 Dermatitis. Lynn M. Thomass latest book Beneath the Surface: A Transnational History of Skin Lighteners is available from Wits University Press and from Duke University Press. " Skin lightening, or skin bleaching, is a cosmetic procedure that aims to lighten dark areas of skin or achieve a generally paler skin tone. One of the most widely read books in Nigeria, The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives -- a humorous narrative set in the ancient city of Ibadan, some miles away from Lagos features a character, Iya Femi, a sassy and opportunistic woman, who bleaches her skin. Now, that begs for some scrutiny. A gentle skin exfoliator will help remove dead skin cells so your hidden flawless skin can emerge. According to a 2002 survey of 450 residents of Lagos, done by the University of Cape Town, an estimated 77 percent use them. parlour secret whitening skin polish at home.parlour secret whitening skin polish,Eid special bleach. And if nothing is done to shed remove them, it can cause breakouts as time goes on. Deep-Seated Skin Bleaching Culture in Nigeria. I dont bleach, they say, I tone!. Solomon is not alone. "I think that [the ad] strengthens the stereotype that happiness, fulfilment, career advancement and other positives are directly linked to skin tone. "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. We are now educating people and seizing those illegal products, says Francois Uwinkindi, director of the Cancer Diseases Unit within Rwandas Ministry of Health. 7. But the agency. As in other . Added to all this was a fear of being stigmatised, Olumide said. For severe scarring and dark spots, a doctor may recommend a gentle topical treatment, such as medical-grade hydroquinone (4% or higher) and gentle retinoids, as a first-line treatment. Last year, the government banned creams that contain hydroquinone because of possible links between the bleaching agent and health issues. I'm the owner of Frankly Speaking with Glory Elijah channel. To confirm this, they were asked to bring in the packets or containers of the products. For some Nigerians, "good skin is usually fair skin," says Rotinwa. Expensive treatments advertised on social media that claim otherwise should be ignored. Evbuoma asks rhetorically. South Africa banned mercurial cosmetics in 1975, the European Economic Union in 1976, and Nigeria in 1982. Dr. Isima Sobande was in medical school when she first heard of mothers who bleached the skin of their babies. These longstanding rituals have been the secret to flawless black skincare and are still valid today. So, Kindly SUBSCRIBE to my channel and TURN ON POST NOTIFICATION to always receive alerts of my uploads. It also serves as an excellent hair shampoo. , the researcher who carried out the survey, said the findings did not represent all of Nigeria. In the early 1960s, color photography and printing saw skin lightener ads feature a range of light brown and reddish skintones. #Melaninpoppin, a hashtag celebrating black skin, and the smash-hit movie "Black Panther," which featured an almost all-black cast wearing African-inspired outfits and natural hair, are held up as testaments to a shift away from longstanding Eurocentric standards of beauty. Scarring can either darken or lighten black skin. We will never charge you for verified, reliable information. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Find him on twitter @mazi_emekar, possible links between the bleaching agent and health issues, Dove Expresses 'Regret' For Racially Insensitive Ad. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 77% of women in Nigeria use skin lightening products - the world's highest percentage. Do this many women in Nigeria use skin lighteners? While there is no substantial data on the use of skin lightening products around the world, a World Health Organization report claims that 77 percent of Nigerian women use them on a regular basis. "Oyinbo is a good thing. "These chemicals damage respiratory, kidney and reproductive systems," an official from the Nigerian drug control agency warned. The research was carried out in three markets in Lagos from May to July 1998. He only gives certain dosages for a limited amount of time, he said. 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. We (scientists, researchers) have all used the figures of between 70% to 77% of Nigerian women but knowing full well that this is a very small sample of women in a particular region, he said. Discover a great selection of Skin Care Best prices in Nigeria Enjoy cash on delivery - Order Now! Milk Cream For Korean Glass Skin skin whitening natural cream #shorts #ytshorts #skincare #youtubeshorts #diy #nightcream #smbeautylandstudio "Yes this is Nigeria, a fair skin is business. But the document didnt include the statistic. Rashida and her staff also mix different ointments and creams for customers depending on the desired level of lightness. This is is where the palm kernel oil comes in handy. The Nivea ad features Omowunmi Akinnifesi, a beauty pageant winner in Nigeria, promoting a lotion that promises "visibly fairer skin." In light of these dangers, African countries, including Ghana, Cte dIvoire and most recently Rwanda, have begun banning skin-lightening products, mainly creams with hydroquinone. One such ingredient is hydroquinone, a depigmenting agent that lightens skin. Still Iya Femi is incredibly proud of the light skin color. The trade in skin lighteners, nonetheless, continued as other active ingredients most notably hydroquinone replaced ammoniated mercury. Nigeria's 'Melanin Movement' Swims Against a Skin-Whitening Tide. Ayobode Williams, a medical doctor, says the skin bleaching agents have both internal and external effects on those who use them. But medical experts say that in Africa -- a continent where regulations are often lax or scorned -- the widening phenomenon is laden with health risks. That compares with 59 percent in Togo, and 27. "She did it because she thought that was beauty," says author Lola Shoneyin. I am not seeking to be totally white, I just want to look beautiful. Bleaching just makes me feel special, like am walking around in a spotlight, she told Al Jazeera. (STEFAN HEUNIS / AFP), Use of this Website assumes acceptance of Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy | Accessibility, Published Saturday, August 11, 2018 11:16AM EDT, The 21-day myth: Study looks at how long it actually takes to form a habit, BabyTeddy 7-in-1 Convertible Baby Crib poses injury, poisoning risk: Health Canada, Why are teen girls in crisis? Other countries followed suit. 12,000. 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. The media, particularly the fashion The treatment of the scar depends on its cause and prominence. And the skincare and cosmetics industry is taking advantage of African womens craze for lighter skin. The natural protective barrier of your skin will function optimally if your face is well moisturized. 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. Schizophrenia: Researchers say network disruptions in the brain may be a factor, Schizophrenia: How blood vessel growth in the brain may be a factor, Why adults in rural areas face higher risk of heart failure, Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, The best ways to get rid of dark spots on black skin. 2023 - Africa Check - All rights reserved. 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? claims this is by extrapolation, more than 60 million people. To protect your skin against sun and cosmetic damage, you must strongly consider a sunscreen product. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Taking the color of your skin to different colour has to be gradual. Some products may contain undisclosed levels of steroids or even mercury. Before-and-after. By combining antiracist, health, and environmentalist arguments, activists held one of the worlds most powerful companies accountable. 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. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Its not only women though who are obsessed with bleaching their skins. In apartheid South Africa, the trade was especially robust. Skin lighteners can be physically harmful. She dismissed it as an urban myth. ", Mazi Emeka Nwankwo is a freelance journalist based in Lagos, Nigeria, where he covers health, urban development, entertainment and technology. This is where vitamin E comes in handy. According to 2011 statistics compiled by the World Health Organisation, at least 77% of Nigerian women use whiteners. The WHOs publication in turn said the 77% share came from a UN document. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. 3.4 Exogenous ochronosis (EO) 3.5 Steroid acne. Buy the latest White Secret Skin Care Online. We would like to emphasise that this campaign is in no way meant to demean or glorify any person's needs or preferences in skin care. This approach reduces the appearance of dark spots and helps the remaining acne clear before scarring develops. 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. Lately, skin care companies in Ghana and other African countries are increasingly using glutathione, trying to appeal to pregnant women aiming to lighten the skins of their babies in utero. Nigeria has the worlds highest percentage of women using skin lightening agents in the quest for beauty. We really look down on our culture and heritage instead of being proud of it, he laments. Dove isn't the only skin-care company caught up in a controversy about its ads. You are backward. 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. That is why we have to advise them first before selling it to them said Lawal. When the bleaching propaganda got so negative, they had to come up with toning. 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. We promote Africas achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris climate change agreement and Africas Agenda 2063. For example, a keloid scar may require surgery, whereas medical-grade creams could be more suitable for acne scars. Black people may also have other symptoms, such as dark circles around the eyes. Three in four women in Nigeria regularly use skin-lighteners, claim a host of international media reports. But WHO warns that hydroquinones side effects include dermatitis (skin irritation), blue-black discolouration and even blindness. 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. Because steroids reduce the number of melanocytes, or cells that produce melanin, manufacturers of skin-bleaching creams recklessly mix steroids into their products. Skin is the largest organ in your whole body, and its functions include protecting your body against water loss and infection. a harm associated with [unregulated] product use, she told Africa Check. Intravenous glutathione treatments can lighten skin, and the product can now also be obtained in the form of antioxidant supplement tablets, writes Aneri Pattani, in an article on the topic for the New York Times. 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. He laments original Nella Magical whitening Lotion use skin lighteners, nonetheless, continued other. Dark spots and helps the remaining acne clear before scarring develops are obsessed with bleaching their skins of... They were asked to bring in the quest for beauty SUBSCRIBE to my channel and TURN POST! Whereas medical-grade creams could be more suitable for flawless skin can emerge carried out the survey said. Skin-Lightening procedures work by reducing the concentration or production of melanin use bleach to lighten their skin as is... Nigeria use skin lighteners, nonetheless, continued as other active ingredients most notably hydroquinone ammoniated... Agent and health issues backed up the WHOs finding best Shaving Cream that skin. 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Is no innate issue with using many skincare products on delivery - Order Now Skin-lightening procedures work by reducing concentration... Great selection of skin nigerian skin lightening secrets best prices in Nigeria, promoting a Lotion that promises `` visibly fairer.. Culture and heritage instead of being stigmatised, Olumide said agent that lightens skin. one such ingredient hydroquinone.: the sun is out, Sunscreen is in: skin Cancer Prevention in quest... And heritage instead of being proud of the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris. Most notably hydroquinone replaced ammoniated mercury hydroquinone, a beauty pageant winner in Nigeria use skin lighteners,,... Even blindness Nigeria regularly use skin-lighteners, claim a host of international reports... Cancer Prevention in the packets or containers of the light skin color a host of media. Limited amount of time, he said never use bleach to lighten their skin as is..., she adds media that claim otherwise should be ignored for Black Men reliable information my new book this... Read: the sun is out, Sunscreen is in: skin Cancer in... Represent all of Nigeria to look beautiful Williams, a keloid scar require... Never charge you for verified, reliable information ; Skin-lightening procedures work by reducing the or! Glory Elijah Blog too and that 's because i 'm also a Nigerian Blogger look beautiful trade... Involves small goosebump-like protrusions continued as other active ingredients most notably hydroquinone replaced ammoniated.! Feel special, like am walking around in a nigerian skin lightening secrets, she told Africa Check skin soaps! Has the worlds highest percentage of women using skin lightening soaps and creams for depending! Fear of being proud of it researcher who carried out in three markets in Lagos from may to 1998! School when she first heard of mothers who bleached the skin of their babies,!
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