And there's almost no other data on skin lightener use in Nigeria. Many home remedies and medical treatments can help smooth the skin and reduce scarring. Fine scars may even fade on their own. That compares with 59 percent in Togo, and 27. LAGOS - A recent World Health Organisation report has revealed that Nigerian women are the biggest users of skin-lightening products. Oyinbo is something we should aspire to. They said the results backed up the WHOs finding . The poll was of 1,000 phone-owning Nigerians who the researchers said had been randomly selected. There's a TV commercial as well in which Akinnifesi's skin. Learn more about treating acne on black skin here. We are now educating people and seizing those illegal products, says Francois Uwinkindi, director of the Cancer Diseases Unit within Rwandas Ministry of Health. Applying sunscreen before going outside protects the skin against harmful UV rays and also reduces the likelihood of dark spots developing. (n.d.). 11 We also provide tips for preventing scarring. . Instagram skincare star Pela Okiemute's "Russian White" body cream claims to give "firmness, intense beauty and a mixed race complexion". Injectables to lighten skin are the most dangerous available now, partly because you do not know what is inside the injections and many are buying from informal markets, explains Shingi Mtero, who teaches a course on the politics of skin bleaching at Rhodes University, South Africa, in an interview with Africa Renewal. You are backward. And theres almost no other data on skin lightener use in Nigeria. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. 4.3 out of 5 (6) Add To Cart. African countries, including Ghana, Cte dIvoire and most recently Rwanda, have begun banning skin-lightening products. There's even a word in Nigerian slang, Rotinwa says oyinbo that can mean anything from a light-skinned person to a Caucasian. The social media storm erupted after the Ghanaian musician Fuse ODG posted the ad on Instagram this week. I dont bleach, they say, I tone!. Scarring can either darken or lighten black skin. South Africa banned mercurial cosmetics in 1975, the European Economic Union in 1976, and Nigeria in 1982. Some types of scars, such as keloid scars, are more common in African Americans than in white people. In the countries where the ads appeared, nearly everyone is of the same race. Your skin is composed of many layers of cells. As the outer skin cells gradually reach the surface, they mature and eventually die. As any form of skin irritation can develop into post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) in people of color, people should ensure that any formulations that they use are extra gentle. Eczema does not look the same on black skin as it does on lighter skin. The better job opportunities and elevated status that people assume lighter skin brings paint a different picturea picture of African women making an entirely rational, calculated, businesslike decision. However, many healthcare problems in Nigeria and. But the document didnt include the statistic. Ayobode Williams, a medical doctor, says the skin bleaching agents have both internal and external effects on those who use them. His "Cleopatra Royal" cream, whose label features Elizabeth Taylor in her famous role as the Egyptian queen, promises to "lighten and radiate". Marburg disease, caused by a virus related to Ebola, is rare but severe, and often fatal. 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. The ads themselves have been around for a few months. This is the reason I believe banning these products will not completely solve the problem, says Ola Orekunrin, a medical doctor and the founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria, an air ambulance service in West Africa. And marriage serves as a form of social capitalbeing someones wife, a child bearer and esteemed member of society. AfroGist Media operates to inform, inspire, entertain and promote the voices of its community through curation of news, events, and community resources. 0:00 0:01:52. According to one estimate, more than 70 million people in Nigeria use skin-lightening products . An African will prefer to be called John-Philip. Not that it wasn't acceptable but people who bleached their skin were regarded as women who were trying too hard to get attention. See our privacy policy. The statistic was traced to 2002 a study of 450 traders in the city of Lagos. Type 2 diabetes and cognitive decline: Is Tai chi more effective than walking? There is no publicly available data to support the claim, and experts say claims like this encourage medical xenophobia. "We try to discourage that," he said. Seborrheic dermatitis affecting the chest: What to know, wounds and injuries, such as bites, cuts, and burns, refraining from picking, popping, or squeezing pimples or scabs, seeking appropriate clinical treatment for acne. The AAD also recommend retinoid and benzoyl peroxide products for skin of color, explaining that although benzoyl peroxide can bleach textiles, it cannot bleach the skin. Powerful lightening compounds are available on prescription for treating blemishes and other conditions, but can have serious side effects if made or used incorrectly. When you find out what is right for you, making the best choice can be easy. By combining antiracist, health, and environmentalist arguments, activists held one of the worlds most powerful companies accountable. But the document is now missing from the UN environment agencys website. "He had very large boils all over his body," the soft-spoken 27-year-old Nigerian told AFP. "They cause cancer, affect the nervous system, deform unborn babies.". due to avian flu, B.C. These ancient products with potent ingredients are used to achieve amazing results in these skincare rituals. This small study doesn't represent the whole country. Within this racist political order, some sought to whiten and lighten their complexions. We really look down on our culture and heritage instead of being proud of it, he laments. 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. Members of the non-profit The Beautywell Project teamed up with the Sierra Club to convince the online retail giant to stop selling skin lightening products that contain mercury. How can home remedies get rid of my old scar? Drum, September 1961. 10,500. But what is Marburg and how does it spread? Cameroonian singer Dencia operates a thriving business selling skin-lightening creams. In Nigerias erratic weather, oil, dirt and other impurities can collect on your skin surface as you go through your day. People should never pop pimples if creams are taking longer to work than expected, as this could cause scarring. That is why when we do refer to it we will say a study so that you can go into it and see it was only one specific region.. "In the African industry the lighter your skin tone the more beautiful you are. Recent Comments. But there are Nigerian skincare secrets that can help in your quest for healthy, glowing skin. Before-and-after pictures of women who have bleached their skin flood the skincare and cosmetics marketplaces in Africa. 2023 - Africa Check - All rights reserved. In this article, learn about how to get rid of dark spots, Scars form when skin wounds heal. Thursday 29 August 2013 - 4:33pm. Excessive oil, makeup, dead skin cells and other impurities from the environment need to be wiped off daily. For those who bleach, staying black is not beautiful at all. For democracy to function, public figures need to be held to account for what they say. According to a controversial report by the World Health Organisation, WHO, in 2011, estimated 77.3 per cent of Nigerian women use skin lightening products regularly. While many scars will fade with time, deep scarring that results from trauma may only fade with medical intervention. CNN's Vladimir Duthiers reports on the craze for whitening creams in Nigeria. Patches of dry skin can appear brown, purple, or grey. There are a few stress-free ways to know yourskin type at home, without having to go through hoops. Could time-restricted eating cause fertility problems? "What was wrong with Ms. Akinnifesi's skin anyway?" The author of the study said the statistic only applied to these traders, not to all of Nigeria. Akinnifesi, who first came into the limelight in 2005 after winning the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant, has enjoyed public goodwill and is one of the leading faces in the country's fashion and beauty industry. The statistic was traced to 2002 a study of 450 traders in the city of Lagos. Many skin lightening products are unregulated and may contain harmful substances. An effective skincare routine does not have to include countless steps and sophisticated products. Somali-American activists recently scored a victory against Amazon and against colourism, which is prejudice based on preference for people with lighter skin tones. The study revealed that 77 . Your close friends recommendation would not even be useful because all of us are unique in our ways. People may wish to use topical lotions and ointment to alleviate their dry, cracked, and itchy 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 sometimes clients will bring in their own cheaper product that they bought online and urge him to inject them. For those of u claiming the word "fairer" mean beautifulTakeDown ya SelfHate billboards in Africa. In the early 1990s, activists convinced the government to ban all cosmetic skin lighteners containing known depigmenting agents and to prohibit cosmetic advertisements from making any claims to bleach, lighten or whiten skin. "It seemed like they weren't normal.". Bleaching products work by lowering the number of melanocytes in your skin. According to the World Health Organization, 77% of women in Nigeria use skin lightening products. people already aspire to be like you.". Super-benefits of humble charcoal? Ive been dark skinned for many years and I wanted to experience the other side. "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. kenapa jerawat naik? 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. Soloman, 32, is bleaching her skin. This is because people who go to dermatology clinics are more likely to have skin problems, which they may have tried to treat with bleaching agents. Now several shades lighter she says her new skin makes her feel more beautiful and confident. 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. ", The statement also said that the product is meant to "protect the skin from long-term sun damage and premature skin-ageing" and also address "uneven skin tone" and that it is "every consumer's right to choose products according to their personal preferences.". Today, were going to take you through essential skincare routine steps. Beware not to startle your skin by introducing too many products at once. Discover a great selection of Skin Care Best prices in Nigeria Enjoy cash on delivery - Order Now! Additionally, if your skin problems persist or look like something unusual, it is time to take a trip to your doctors office. 3,280. offers from. Hopefully the industry is changing and starting to appreciate darker skin.". But there are Nigerian skincare secrets that can help in your quest for healthy, glowing skin. They think bleaching is gege, he told Al Jazeera, using a Nigerian term for cool. These professionals can offer advice on how to minimize the risk of hyperpigmentation after treatment. The research was carried out in three markets in Lagos from May to July 1998. June 4, 2013. She wants to be famous and says bleaching her skin could increase her chances at getting more movie roles. Your skin is composed of many layers of cells. "After the ad, I honestly took a look at my arms. Former Nigerian beauty queen Omowunmi Akinnifesi is featured, gazing into space, a sly smile playing on the sides of her lips. In early 2022, Hush'D Makeover, a made-in-Nigeria skincare brand featured Big Brother Naija season six ex-housemate, Maria Chike . If youre looking for a gentler skin you want to have this product on your shelf. Vitamin C, also a common ingredient in skin lightening creams, is an antioxidant that is known to lower melanin production in our cells. Skin lighteners became primarily associated with people of colour. Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Rwanda banned all whitening products while Nigeria joined South Africa in barring those with harmful chemicals. Activated charcoal is one of the most medicinal products you can have at home, according to social media posts. The claims they make need to be checked, openly and impartially. When toxic substances accumulate in your body and skin, the results show on your face in the form of acne, blemishes, scaly skin. 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. 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. And the perception is that lighter skin tone can bring such advantages as better job and marriage prospects, the critics say. a harm associated with [unregulated] product use, she told Africa Check. At a health centre in Lagos, a mother brought in a two-month-old infant who was crying in pain. 2 Skin bleaching in Nigeria. Active ingredients in skin lighteners have ranged from acidic compounds like lemon juice and milk to harsher chemicals like sulfur, arsenic, and mercury. 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. "Omowunmi Akinnifesi is not that fair to begin with. An African will prefer to be called John-Philip. Consumers included white, black, and brown women. 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. 3.3 Skin cancer. Dr. Isima Sobande was in medical school when she first heard of mothers who bleached the skin of their babies. However, a method can help you choose the most suitable beauty product for yourself. So overestimating their use may not be a public health danger, an expert said. Mshoza is famous for her musicand now for her bleached skin. Support independent fact-checking in Africa. Although, the report has been . She initially sought to bleach her hyperpigmentation (dark patches on the skin) but then decided to maintain a light complexion overall. ", Aranmolate Ayobami, plastic surgeon at Grandville Medical and Laser clinic, holds a package of Depiwhite a skin lightening product on July 17, 2018, in Lagos, Nigeria. The AAD explain that skin-lightening products can help reduce or eliminate hyperpigmentation or dark spots. It was distressing," said Sobande. According to 2011 statistics compiled by the World Health Organisation, at least 77% of Nigerian women use whiteners. By the twentieth century, mass-produced skin lightening creams ranked among the worlds most popular cosmetics. T Today, the global skin lightening industry is estimated to be in the multibillion dollar range. Black people may also have other symptoms, such as dark circles around the eyes. 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. Are unique in our ways queen Omowunmi Akinnifesi is featured, gazing into,... 1975, the global skin lightening creams ranked among the worlds most cosmetics! 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The same race social capitalbeing someones wife, a method can help reduce or eliminate hyperpigmentation or spots! These traders, not to all of Nigeria these ancient products with potent ingredients are to. Quest for healthy, glowing skin. `` AAD explain that skin-lightening products darker!, deep scarring that results from trauma may only fade with medical intervention t the! She wants to be in the countries where the ads themselves have been around for a few months be!