Just before you decide to whiten your skin ; The irrationalities involved.
By Bashiru Hameed Akande-Olokunesin
She was the paragon of 'African beauty', an eidolon of the ebony cliche, Kemi (not real name) was the ideal 'chocolate' lady - dark, slim, of average height with an infectious smile and inherent beatitude that is intoxicating. The sort of lady you'd be proud to have had a crush on. That was about eight years ago and the last time we had any sort of physical interaction whatsoever. Cognitively, I had a permanent image of an embodiment of a black goddess in my cerebrum since.
Late last year when we met, unexpectedly at a ceremony, she was distinctly different from the goddess that I revered. With no trace of the "blackness" that made me to instinctively and unconsciously crown her the 'epitome of my ideal woman'. Distinctively with an artificial white skin ladened with uneven dark spots at the various joints and scars on the body. I was crestfallen like I was struck with a scud arrow piercing through my heart and that made me to abhor this ignominious act much more and led me into this empirical write-up.
How prevalent is this ominous and pernicious practice?
No scientific nor statistical survey is needed here. You have only to look around at peers, teachers, venerated individuals, friends, co-workers, religious leaders, pundits, family members and random persons in the street. This trend has reached such a dangerous proportion that nursing mothers have started bleaching their kids!
Skin whitening is definitely a controversial entity as people are entitled to do and belief in whatever they deem desirable and obviously, responsible for their actions. This write-up will definitely permeate into racism, colonialism, preeminence, and try to analyse why skin whitening is trending and to show how dangerous this practice is. People culpable of this ignominious act will definitely be on the receiving end of my quite paradoxical approach -witty and caustic!
Is bleaching the skin hazardous?
It is now scientifically and undoubtedly proven that chemical skin whitening can lead to plethora of serious skin and health conditions which include but not limited to permanent skin bleaching, thinning of skin, uneven colour loss - leading to a blotchy appearance, redness and intense irritation, dark grey spots, skin cancer, acne, increase in appetite and weight gain, osteoporosis, neurological and kidney damage due to high level of mercury used in the creams, psychiatric disorders, asthma, liver damage and severe birth defects in children born to mothers who abuse certain chemicals like mercury.
Various research has shown that bleaching is absolutely and totally unsafe. Hydroquinone, a common ingredient of many of the creams has long been linked to a disfiguring condition called ochronosis that causes a splotchy darkening of the skin and may even leave a web of stretch marks across the users face!
It is noteworthy that Hydroquinone has been banned in Japan, the European Union, and Australia, due to concerns about health risks and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) listed any substance containing more than 2% hydroquinone as unsafe.
Common chemical bleaching agents include Mercury, hydroquinone, Kojic acid, tretinoin etc but the active ingredients of most bleaching creams in Nigeria are Mercury and hydroquinone in that order.
How do they work?
Melanin is a complex polymer responsible for determining skin and hair colour, depending on the concentration present. So the more melanin you have, the darker you will be.
Most skin-lightening treatments are aimed at inhibiting melanin production. They either inhibit melanin production outrightly or work in post-melanin synthesis (interfering with melanin mechanism). Melanin is actually much more important than just determining the various pigmentations found in skin as it's our skin's very own sunscreen which protects it from harmful Ultraviolet rays (UVR) from the sun.
Hydroquinone is a strong inhibitor of melanin production, meaning that it prevents dark skin from making the substance responsible for skin colour and protecting us against harmful ultraviolet rays. It has been banned in Europe because of fears of a cancer risk but creams with hydroquinone as their active ingredient are quite common in Nigeria. In fact, prolonged Hydroquinone usage has been demonstrated to cause leukaemia (a serious genetic, blood disease) in mice and other animals.
However, Majority of the skin whiteners in Nigeria contain toxic mercury compounds such as mercury (II) chloride or ammoniated mercury as the active ingredient. Mercury-based creams have been banned in Europe since 1976 and in the USA since 1990 for the purpose of skin whitening due to its established and undoubted perniciousness.
Mercury generally accumulate in the skin thereby irritating the skin and it can have serious repercussions in the long term.
Why bleaching?
It's quite difficult if not impossible to veraciously discern the cause of this malaise in our society but it's likely caused by myriad of clearly linked and interwoven factors.
The seemingly universal preference of white skin over the black skin is the underlying principle behind racism and discrimination. For centuries, White has been the venerable symbol of good and peace while black is the profane symbol of evil and devil (I'm sure our nollywood brothers and sisters will give credence to this) and this has not only greatly influenced many black Africans into believing the white colour including the skin has some form of invincibility which is desirable even at their own detriment.
Skin bleaching is a form of Psychological solace for some people especially ladies and men with "inferiority complex" believing that it significantly make them to look more beautiful and handsome respectively and thereby assuaging their burgeoning self hatred and improving their confidence.
Moreover, Skin bleaching seems to be a form of peer influenced vices in some community and as such adopted by many due to the wide popularity of the action.
The most perplexing and intriguing part of this malady is that it's not restricted nor curbed by exposure, formal education, religious belief, political inclination, family background or whatsoever!
Another important factor is the tripartite factors of social media, musicians and celebrities. They have become subtle exponents of skin bleaching as the seemingly "alluring" white skin is an integral part and parcel of their lifestyle. Popular celebrities such as Michael Jackson (who suffered a fatal repercussion) and Nicki Minaj have undergone skin colour transformation over the years and it isn't surprising that majority of their fans desire such colour that mimics their "revered" role model.
In conclusion, you definitely have no valid reason to bleach (except if medically prescribed) not just because of the exigent dangers inherent in it but also to serve as a from of repudiation against the obnoxious belief that "white is better than black".
There's nothing wrong with your dark skin as it has not been demonstrated or proven scientifically that skin colour is linked with intelligence or brilliance. The dark skin is to cherished, savoured and prided as our identity.
To those who are yet to alter their skin pigment, please abstain from it and those currently culpable of it, it's never too late to stop before you 'cross the Rubicon' as there are various natural skin restorative means.
Bashiru Hameed Akande was the best graduating student from the department of Animal Sciences (2015), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He has fervent passion for writing, punditry, playing football and is an avid fan of Chelsea football club.
Contacts:
Email-Hameedbashiru@gmail.com
Mobile number- +2348072959437
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