“Say it loud – I’m black and I’m proud”
– R&B legend, James Brown in his 1968 album.
Can you believe that the World Health
Organisation has adjudged Nigeria as the country with the highest number
of women who use skin-lightening products in the world? In a recent
skin bleaching snap survey conducted by NOI Polls from February 3 – 5,
and published on March 18, 2014 in Abuja, the polling agency said the
assessment result confirms the submission of WHO on the endemic nature
of skin bleaching among Nigerian women.
Recall that a report in The Vanguard newspaper
of June 3, 2013 had said the WHO had indicated that 77 per cent of
women in Nigeria use skin-bleaching products being the highest in the
world. The figure compares with 59 per cent in Togo, and 27 per cent in
Senegal. Asians are facing a similar trend as 4 out of 10 women in Hong
Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan use a
skin-whitening cream.
Continue reading after the cut...
The NOI Polls report reads, “Latest
snap poll results released by NOI Polls have revealed that 64 per cent
of Nigerians are of the opinion that skin bleaching has become highly
predominant in the country, especially amongst Nigerian females (97 per
cent). This finding supports the claim by the World Health Organisation
that Nigeria has the highest number of women that use skin-lightening
products in the world. The poll further revealed that despite the
negative effects of skin bleaching affirmed by 83 per cent of
respondents; the top reasons why people still engage in the practice of
skin bleaching are the need to “look beautiful” (35 per cent ) and to
“look attractive to the opposite sex” (32 per cent). Skin bleaching was
also reported as being mostly predominant amongst Nigerians within the
age groups of 18–25 years (48 per cent) and 26-40 years (43 per cent).
In addition, respondents identified some of the negative effects
associated with skin bleaching to include “skin cancer” (35 per cent)
and “skin damage” (25 per cent)”.
After reading the report, I went on
YouTube and listened attentively to the “Yellow Fever” song of the
iconic AfroBeat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. In that song released in
1976, the inimitable social crusader using pidgin English as a medium of
communication identified different types of fever – malaria, jaundice,
hay, influenza, inflation, freedom and yellow – and bifurcated yellow
fever into original and artificial.
He then chronicled the different symptoms
of the original and metaphorically equated skin bleaching as artificial
yellow fever. He also described the signs of the artificial “yellow
fever” as well as the damaging effects on the skin. He called bleaching
“stupid thing, yeye thing, ugly thing, foolish thing”. I couldn’t agree
more with him. With the latest NOI Polls and WHO report on skin
bleaching among Nigerian women, it would seem the Abami Eda’s (Fela’s nickname) warning about the dangers of bleaching has gone unheeded. Pity, sad pity!
Let’s do a little dissection of the NOI
Polls. I must state categorically that it is not only young girls or
ladies that bleach their skins. Older women and indeed boys and men do
too. The only difference is that the preponderance is more among young
ladies. As rightly pointed out by the NOI Polls, “People of all ages,
races, complexions, and social class participate in this global practice
regardless of gender or level of education”. Skin bleaching is said to
be predominant among youths 18 – 40 years old. Yet, it is not as if they
are not aware of the dangers inherent in skin bleaching as respondents
were able to identify skin cancer and skin damage as two likely
consequences of skin lightening. Why then do people indulge in this
dangerous habit? The answer lies in the respondents’ view that people
persist in skin bleaching because they believe it makes them look
“beautiful and more attractive to the opposite sex”. This is all
balderdash!
From my knowledge of this issue, skin
bleaching is a delusional fantasy. Toning or bleaching neither makes the
practitioners beautiful or more attractive. Rather, it makes them look
repulsive and ugly. I remember we call them derogatory names such as
“Yellow pawpaw” or someone with “Fanta face and Coke legs” as they have
black patches all over their yellowish skin and when they sweat, they
have body odour. I also learnt that in the event of a need to conduct
surgery on someone with bleached skin, it’s usually difficult to suture
them as the skin would have become very fragile.
An internet source: http://www.indiaparenting.com/beauty/article.cgi?art_id=309
listed 14 risks of skin bleaching to include the followings: Dark grey
spots; skin cancer; acne; swelling of the skin; thinning of the skin;
cataracts; setting down of fat on face, chest, upper back and stomach;
increase in appetite and weight gain; osteoporosis; neurological and
kidney damage due to high level of mercury used in the creams;
psychiatric disorders; severe birth defects; asthma; and liver damage.
Some of these side effects could be seen almost immediately while some
are seen after a prolonged use of skin whitening creams.
Quite unfortunately, skin bleaching
products do not come cheap. Bleaching soaps and creams are expensive yet
we have this huge number of Nigerians indulging in it. In case you’re
hell-bent on having a flawless and fair skin, my research reveals that
there are natural ways of going about it. Some of the means suggested
include dietary change, increased consumption of water, use of limes and
lemons, and appropriate application of cleansers.
It states that, “Diet is the most
important part that you should take care of if you want a flawless skin.
Take away all refined food products and replace them with healthy and
nutritious ones. Increase your intake of water. This helps keep the
skin free of dehydration and so the look is healthy and unblemished.
Take proper care of cleaning your skin. Choose the product that is
natural and effective. Pay attention to exfoliating your skin from time
to time so that you get rid of the dead skin; lastly, citric acid is
natural bleach and will help you have a lighter skin time without any
side effect. You can make a face mask with lime juice, few drops of
glycerin and flour to make a paste. Apply this on your face and leave
for 20 – 30 minutes. Wash with normal water.”
Above all, it is important for those
wanting to lighten or bleach their skin whether in a natural or
artificial way to first seek counsel with their dermatologist so that
their craze for beauty does not turn to disgrace and regrets. As for me
and my household, we’re black and proud!
- Jide Ojo/Punch
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