A mother in northern Nigeria expresses distress while holding her two-year-old child, who exhibits burns and skin discoloration on his face and legs.
The 32-year-old woman used skin-lightening products on all six of her offspring, influenced by family pressure, an action she now profoundly regrets.
Fatima, a pseudonym to protect her family’s privacy, recounts that one daughter conceals her face in public to hide burn marks.
Another child experienced hyperpigmentation, resulting in darker skin than previously, with a contrasting pale area around the eyes. A third child developed whitish scars on her lips and knees.
Her toddler still suffers from open wounds, with slow skin recovery.
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“My sister bore fair-skinned children, whereas mine are darker. I observed my mother’s favoritism towards my sister’s children due to their complexion, which deeply hurt me,” Fatima stated.
She admitted using creams purchased from a local supermarket in Kano city, without medical consultation.
One of Fatima’s daughters exhibits marks on her lips due to the creams. [BBC]
Initially, the products seemed effective. The grandmother became more affectionate towards Fatima’s children, who were then between two and 16 years old.
However, subsequently, burns and scars emerged.
Prevalence of Skin Lightening in Nigeria
Skin-lightening, also referred to as bleaching in Nigeria, is practiced globally for cosmetic purposes, often intertwined with deep-seated cultural beliefs.
Nigeria records the highest usage of skin-lightening products among women in Africa, with 77% using them regularly, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Comparatively, Congo-Brazzaville reports 66%, Senegal 50%, and Ghana 39%.
Harmful Ingredients and Health Implications
These creams may incorporate corticosteroids or hydroquinone, potentially detrimental in high concentrations and often requiring prescriptions in many countries.
Other hazardous components can include mercury, a toxic metal, and kojic acid, a byproduct of sake production.
Potential health consequences encompass dermatitis, acne, skin discoloration, inflammatory conditions, mercury poisoning, and kidney damage.
The WHO warns that skin thinning may occur, delaying wound healing and increasing susceptibility to infections.
“Many associate fair skin with beauty or prosperity. Women often attempt to protect their children from perceived discrimination by bleaching them from infancy,” states Zainab Bashir Yau, Nigerian dermatology spa owner. Source: Zainab Bashir Yau.
Nigeria Declares Emergency Over Skin Bleaching
The severity of the situation prompted Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac) to declare a state of emergency in 2023.
Bleaching children, as Fatima did, is reportedly increasing.
Zainab Bashir Yau, a dermatology spa proprietor in Abuja, explained to the BBC, “Many people link light skin with attractiveness or affluence. Women tend to ‘shield’ their children from this prejudice by bleaching them from birth.”
She estimates that 80% of women she encounters have bleached or intend to bleach their children.
She adds some were bleached as infants themselves, perpetuating the cycle.
Social Stigma and Misconceptions
Darkening of knuckles is frequently considered an indicator of skin-whitening product use in Nigeria. While hands and feet lighten, knuckles often remain darker.
However, dark patches on hands can also stem from smoking or drug use.
Consequently, skin-lightening product users are sometimes wrongly associated with drug use.
Color disparities on bleached hands are sometimes mistaken for marks on drug users’ hands. [BBC]
Fatima recounts this misconception affecting her daughters, aged 16 and 14.
“They have faced societal discrimination, being stigmatized as drug users, which has greatly impacted them,” she laments.
Consequently, they reportedly lost potential engagements because men were reluctant to associate with women perceived as drug users.
Unregulated Market and Dangerous Practices
Visiting a market in Kano, the reporter observed “mixologists” creating skin-whitening creams.
An entire market section is dedicated to shops selling thousands of these creams.
While some pre-made options exist, customers can choose raw materials for custom-mixed creams.
Notably, some bleaching creams marketed for babies contained restricted substances.
Sellers admitted using controlled ingredients like kojic acid, hydroquinone, and glutathione, a potent antioxidant with potential side effects like rashes.
Teenage girls were also seen purchasing bleaching creams for personal use and resale to peers in bulk.
Market vendors utilize potent substances to formulate skin-lightening creams, customizing them per customer requests. [BBC]
One woman with discolored hands insisted on adding a lightening agent to her children’s cream, despite it being restricted for adult use and prohibited for children.
“Despite my hands’ discoloration, I am buying these creams for my children to achieve light skin. I believe my condition is due to using the wrong product, and my children will be fine,” she asserted.
A seller mentioned most customers aim to make their babies “glow” or appear “radiant and shiny.”
Dosage awareness appeared limited among buyers.
One salesman admitted using “excessive kojic acid,” exceeding recommended limits, to achieve significant skin lightening, reducing the quantity for a subtle effect.
Fatima’s toddler still has facial sores from skin-lightening products, hindering healing. [BBC]
Nafdac’s approved kojic acid concentration in creams is 1%.
Salesmen were even observed administering injections to women.
Government Intervention and Prevention Efforts
Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, a Nafdac director, stated that public education initiatives about the risks are underway.
He added that market raids and border controls are being implemented to confiscate skin-lightening ingredients entering Nigeria.
However, he acknowledged challenges in identifying these substances.
“Some are transported in unmarked containers, requiring laboratory analysis for identification.”
Fatima’s Regret and Warning
Fatima expressed enduring remorse for her actions, particularly concerning her children’s potential permanent scarring.
“Upon learning about the dangers and the stigma her grandchildren faced, my mother, whose actions initiated this, felt regret and apologized,” Fatima recounted of their conversation.
Fatima is now committed to preventing other parents from repeating her mistakes.
“Despite stopping the use… the adverse effects persist. I implore other parents to consider my situation as a cautionary tale.”