Concerns over popularity of skin bleaching creams in Nigeria | BBC News

Key Concepts:

Skin lightening creams (bleaching creams), Nigeria, Africa, World Health Organization (WHO), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Kano State, Lagos State, medical aesthetician, skin color discrimination, steroids, mercury, hydroquinone, kojic acid, nephrotic syndrome, sensitization programs.

Prevalence and Context:

• More than three-quarters of people in Nigeria use skin lightening creams, also known as bleaching creams.
• Nigeria has the highest usage of these creams in Africa, according to the WHO in 2023.
• NAFDAC declared a state of emergency over these products in 2023.
• Kano and Lagos states are identified as major hubs for skin bleaching activities.

Personal Accounts and Motivations:

• A Nigerian mother admits to using bleaching creams on all six of her children from as young as two years old, resulting in skin damage. Her identity is concealed for privacy.
• The mother states she used the creams due to pressure from her own mother, who showed preferential treatment to lighter-skinned grandchildren.
• Medical aesthetician Zena Bashiru notes that many people link lighter skin to beauty and wealth.
• Some women bleach their children from birth to shield them from discrimination.
• Some pregnant women take injections to give birth to lighter-skinned children.

Health Consequences:

• Long-term use of skin lightening products can lead to severe rashes, first-degree burns, and kidney damage (nephrotic syndrome).
• Common bleaching ingredients include steroids, mercury, hydroquinone, and kojic acid.
• Many of these ingredients are banned or tightly regulated by NAFDAC, especially in children's products.

Accessibility and Regulation:

• Despite regulations, bleaching creams are easily accessible, even products marketed as "baby bleaching cream" containing illegal substances.
• Shopkeepers in Kano State mix their own creams from raw ingredients, often without precise measurements of bleaching chemicals.
• Sellers admitted to being unaware of all NAFDAC rules, such as the regulated use of kojic acid.

NAFDAC's Response and Challenges:

• NAFDAC claims to have conducted sensitization programs for sellers, educating them on the dangers of bleaching creams.
• NAFDAC states that they are gathering intelligence and will "strike" against producers when ready.
• The challenges are vast due to the high demand and numerous producers.

Notable Quotes:

• Mother: "When I visit my mother, she shows more love to her other light-skinned grandchildren, but when I got the bleaching cream and started using it on them, they became lighter, and then she started bringing them closer to her."
• Medical aesthetician Zena Bashiru: "A lot of people link light skin to beauty or wealth."
• Mother: "What happened to me is why I want to advise other people not to follow this route, they will regret it. You need to accept how God created you."

Technical Terms and Concepts:

• Skin Lightening Creams (Bleaching Creams): Products used to lighten skin tone, often containing harmful chemicals.
• NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control): Nigeria's food and drug regulator responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water.
• Nephrotic Syndrome: A kidney disorder that causes the body to excrete too much protein in the urine.
• Steroids, Mercury, Hydroquinone, Kojic Acid: Chemicals commonly found in bleaching creams, some of which are banned or regulated due to their harmful effects.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The report highlights the widespread use of skin lightening creams in Nigeria, driven by societal pressures and the perception that lighter skin is associated with beauty and wealth. This practice has severe health consequences, particularly for children. Despite regulations by NAFDAC, these products remain easily accessible, and many sellers are unaware of the rules. While NAFDAC claims to be addressing the issue through sensitization programs and enforcement, the challenges are significant due to high demand and numerous producers. The report emphasizes the need to change deeply entrenched views on skin color to protect public health.