"I think that [the ad] strengthens the stereotype that happiness, fulfilment, career advancement and other positives are directly linked to skin tone. You are backward. "After the ad, I honestly took a look at my arms. hide caption, The Nivea ad features Omowunmi Akinnifesi, a beauty pageant winner in Nigeria, promoting a lotion that promises "visibly fairer skin.". An especially disturbing element is the resurgence of mercurial products. 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. But manufacturers are fighting back. In Africa, Nigeria is the largest consumer of skin lightening products. They think bleaching is gege, he told Al Jazeera, using a Nigerian term for cool. 3 Side effects of skin bleaching. Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya have all banned skin bleaching products with high amounts of hydroquinone and mercury, with the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa urging people to "reject all colonial notions of beauty". Many natural resources abound in Africa. A good womens or mens skincare routine will include these three basic steps. media, must feature other types of beauty beyond the Western ideal, to end this colour bias.. They often fade over time but can leave a permanent mark. "Oyinbo is a good thing. Factors like the intense sun and constant exposure to dust can affect your skin, making it difficult to have a glowing skin. Overuse of steroid creams over a long period can cause thinning or weakening of the skin, stretch marks and easy bruising. There is no publicly available data to support the claim, and experts say claims like this encourage medical xenophobia. The key to using these products effectively is knowing your skin type. Skin lightening is popular in many parts of the world, including South Asia and the Middle East. Help us keep it that way by supporting our work. Turmeric is great for your skin. Seborrheic dermatitis commonly affects the skin on the chest, causing a red, scaly rash to appear. "More clients want insight on the lightening market," said Rubab Abdoolla, a beauty analyst at market researchers Euromonitor International. There is a wide variety of beauty products in the market, and it can be an overwhelming choice to pick the best beauty secrets that suit your preference. We must open up a conversation around skin colour and beauty. In parts of precolonial Southern Africa, some people used mineral and botanical preparations to brighten rather than whiten or lighten their skin and hair. In the countries where the ads appeared, nearly everyone is of the same race. 2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK. Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically. "She did it because she thought that was beauty," says author Lola Shoneyin. Not that it wasn't acceptable but people who bleached their skin were regarded as women who were trying too hard to get attention. Beware not to startle your skin by introducing too many products at once. We cover the challenges the continent faces and the solutions to these byAfricans themselves, including with the support of the United Nations and international community. Additionally, if your skin problems persist or look like something unusual, it is time to take a trip to your doctors office. She pointed out problems in studies made so far, including the ones discussed in this report. She notes that acceptance and contentment in oneself was key to a successful life. Skin lightening in Africa is not a new phenomenon. Dove isn't the only skin-care company caught up in a controversy about its ads. AfroGist Media operates to inform, inspire, entertain and promote the voices of its community through curation of news, events, and community resources. The figure compares with 59 per cent in . Lagos, Nigeria After carefully washing her face, legs and arms, Taiwo Solomon vigorously rubs cream over her body. 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. She is meticulous and makes sure she covers her entire face. The market for skin-lightening creams in Nigeria is big according to a 2011 report by the World Health Organization, 77 percent of Nigerian women use skin-lightening products. Tina Ohanu says she doesn't need to bleach her skin. There's even a word in Nigerian slang, Rotinwa says oyinbo that can mean anything from a light-skinned person to a Caucasian. Director, Quality, Curriculum, and Integrity. In early 2022, Hush'D Makeover, a made-in-Nigeria skincare brand featured Big Brother Naija season six ex-housemate, Maria Chike . (n.d.). The Nivea ad features Omowunmi Akinnifesi, a beauty pageant winner in Nigeria, promoting a lotion that promises "visibly fairer skin." While these moves help promote natural and healthy skin tone, however, the Melanin Movement is still dwarfed by Africans' demand for skin-lightening products. . Allowed HTML tags:
. The ads themselves have been around for a few months. Bleaching products work by lowering the number of melanocytes in your skin. "Omowunmi Akinnifesi is not that fair to begin with. 4.3 out of 5 (6) Add To Cart. 0:00 0:01:52. The URL has been copied to your clipboard. Bootleg. laser treatment. And how might its most toxic elements be curtailed? "Just like with plastic surgery, it begins to feel like it's never enough.". 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. Skin is the largest organ in your whole body, and its functions include protecting your body against water loss and infection. ", 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.". 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. Bleaching just makes me feel special, like am walking around in a spotlight, she told Al Jazeera. "We're seeing folks attempt to be perceived as having more value because of their complexion.". "But it's going to take a lot of effort to change the mindset. Cosmetic users in ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome created dramatic appearances by pairing skin whiteners containing lead or chalk with black eye makeup and red lip colourants. Must read: The Sun Is Out, Sunscreen Is In: Skin Cancer Prevention in the Black Community. And many studies relied on participants to self-report, which may have skewed the findings. "They cause cancer, affect the nervous system, deform unborn babies.". This can be attributed to shea butters antioxidant, which strengthens and protect your skin from damaging. bleach cream at home.eid special bleach.best bleach cre. Learn more here. How can home remedies get rid of my old scar? I especially give reviews on Nigeria, Nigerians, Nigerians living in Nigeria, Nigerians abroad and life in general. (AP/Caterina Werner). However, many healthcare problems in Nigeria and. She believes fairer skin could be her ticket to a better life. How to fade dark spots in skin of color. Three in four women in Nigeria regularly use skin-lighteners, claim a host of international media reports. Many skin lightening products are unregulated and may contain harmful substances. kenapa jerawat naik? When your body is exposed to certain conditions like pollution free radicals are generated. Nigeria has the worlds highest percentage of women using skin lightening agents in the quest for beauty. Your skin is composed of many layers of cells. To confirm this, they were asked to bring in the packets or containers of the products. According to a 2002 survey of 450 residents of Lagos, done by the University of Cape Town, an estimated 77 percent use them. Super-benefits of humble charcoal? According to 2011 statistics compiled by the World Health Organisation, at least 77% of Nigerian women use whiteners. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 77% of women in Nigeria use skin lightening products - the world's highest percentage. 10 REASONS WOMEN BLEACH THEIR SKIN | THE OPEN SECRETS OF NIGERIAN WOMENHi!I'm Glory Elijah; a Nigerian YouTuber, Nigerian Vlogger, Lagos Vlogger, you name it. 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. 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. This social media criticism of Nivea's ad is part of an ongoing debate in Africa, where there is growing dissent against skin lightening products, popularly called "bleaching creams" in Nigeria. 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