VARIOUS-IS BLACK BEAUTIFUL In quest for 'beauty' many continue to use harmful skin bleaching creams

Record ID: 144431

  • Title: VARIOUS-IS BLACK BEAUTIFUL In quest for 'beauty' many continue to use harmful skin bleaching creams
  • Date: 11th August 2015
  • Summary: DAKAR, SENEGAL (FILE) (REUTERS) MARKET SCENE VARIOUS OF A CUSTOMER SHOPPING AT BEAUTY SHOP VARIOUS OF SKIN LIGHTENING PRODUCTS ON SALE
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2BN1NIOW2JUKVGEHHQY8NP188
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: They come in different names; lightening, brightening, whitening - and while marketing slogans in Africa might be varied; the underlying effects are similar.
    Skin lightening is a common practice among dark skinned people in many parts of the world and in Africa the growing trend has created a thriving market for dangerous skin-lightening products, despite health risks.
    Various brands contain hydroquinone and mercury, both powerful toxins.
    In the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, skin lightening is common among men and women.
    "After showering, of course I use 'Clair Men.' But, in my opinion, it should be taken at night because hydroquinone is very dangerous. For example, I have already seen it happen to my aunt who has spots everywhere on her face just because she used hydroquinone. I think that we should use products without hydroquinone because people who use it are generally disappointed. Using it makes the skin more sensitive to the sun and also causes burns on the face. It is not good at all," said Symphorien Mbuebue, who says he uses a bleaching cream known as "Clair Men".
    Mbuembue is not alone, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 77 percent of Nigerian women use skin bleaching products, followed by Togo with 59 percent, South Africa has 35 percent and Mali, 25 percent.
    Although their use is banned in many countries, some western nations still allow the manufacture of compounds containing these chemicals for export only.
    African markets continue being flooded with these products in what is said to be a multimillion-dollar industry.
    The harmful effects of hydroquinone use have pushed governments of certain countries like Ivory Coast to ban the import and production of products whose ingredients include hydroquinone.
    In DRC, to curb the use of bleaching products, skin activists have introduced a campaign raising awareness on the health dangers caused by hydroquinone and other harmful ingredients and hope that authorities here will also take action.
    Patricia Zolantima is one of the activists. She says the ideal outcome would be a complete ban on all kinds of lightening products.
    "Today in Africa there are not many laws, other than in Ivory Coast, where skin lightening products have been banned. Here, you can have up to 2 percent of hydroquinone in a product, but we did some tests before launching this campaign and it was more than 5 percent or 6 percent. It is not 2 percent, but who is monitoring? Is there someone who is checking to make sure that it really is 2 percent? No," Zolantima said.
    Businessman Uzair Rawji says bleaching products remain popular in DRC despite the campaign.
    Rawji sells a product called 'Black is Beautiful', which he says is made from shea butter and vegetable oil plants - all natural ingredients in an effort to encourage the use of 'safe' skin-lightening products.
    "Why not give Congolese and African consumers a product that they can be proud to buy? We tell the Congolese and African people to be proud of their beauty, so we made a product about that," said Rawji.
    In many parts of Africa, lighter skinned women are considered to be more beautiful, successful and are thought more likely to find a husband.
    "Really, I married a fair lady. I get married to a fair lad, Rita Nipal Daniel, so I like fair girls. But I like to maintain my colour as a black guy," said Lagos resident, Nipal Daniel.
    Some researchers have linked the practice of skin bleaching in Africa to a complex history of colonialism, black oppression and white superiority.
    But increased awareness on the health consequences of using lightening creams has also led to some people rejecting the practice.
    "I think we should just appreciate just being African, let's not try to westernize ourselves and to be like other people in other countries, we should just accept ourselves just the way we are, just the way we are created," said one Johannesburg resident Zanele Mabhija.
    "What I consider beautiful is what God has created. What God has created is beautiful, trees, people, black, white, Asian, everybody is beautiful to me," said Nairobi resident, Judy Nyaga.
    Research has shown that many people who use skin lightening products are unable to stop trying to lighten their skin even though they want to.
    While some countries have passed legislation banning the import and sale of skin lightening products, activists say governments should do more to regulate the marketing and sale of these products, as well as put more emphasis in raising awareness to the public.
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