Connect with us

News

Report on “Skin Lightening” in Nigeria: Battabox Enlightens Nigerians on the Dangers & Side Effects of Skin Lightening Products

Published

 on

In June 2012, the World Health Organisation released a report on the danger of mercury in skin lightening soaps and creams which revealed that Nigerians are the highest users of such products.

According to the report, 77 per cent of Nigerians use such products on a regular basis. This is followed by Togo with 59 per cent; South Africa, 35 per cent; and Mali, 25 per cent.

The report raised awareness on the side effects of skin bleaching which range from skin irritations to cancer, skin rashes, swelling of the skin, seizures, numbness, pain tremors and memory loss. In more severe cases, the adverse effects of inorganic mercury — a common ingredient found in skin lightening soaps and creams include kidney damage, reduction in the skin resistance to bacterial and fungal infections, anxiety, depression, psychosis and peripheral neuropathy.{click here for a full report and pictures on ireporterstv}

Further spreading this awareness, BattaBox.com owned by former CNN Correspondent, Christian Purefoy has released a video titled Report on “Skin Lightening” in Nigeria.

In the video, the camera was taken to stores to see some popular bleaching creams which are being used by Nigerian women. Also, some Nigerian men spoke about their preferred skin colour and most of them said they like “chocolate” skinned ladies.

Trisha Oseafiana, a chemistry graduate spoke about the various means of skin bleaching – creams, soaps, pills and injections – and their side effects.

“All these pills, soaps and injections people are using have side-effects. It starts with skin irritations, burns and – before you know it, it develops into cancer.”

Please watch the video and share your thoughts.

Adeola Adeyemo is a graduate of Industrial Relations and Personnel Management from University of Lagos. However, her passion is writing and she worked as a reporter with NEXT Newspaper. She believes that anything can be written about; anything can be a story depending on the angle it is seen from and the writer's imagination. When she is not writing news or feature articles, she slips into her fantasies and creates interesting fiction pieces. She blogs at www.deolascope.blogspot.com

Advertisement

Star Features

css.php