Angela Onwuzoo
A Consultant Dermatologist and Venereologist at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Dr Sebastine Oiwoh, says skin-lightening products are capable of wiping off organisms that serve as soldiers to the skin, leaving it unprotected against infections.
He said the practice of skin-lightening should be discouraged, warning that the damaging effects of using skin-lightening products are many and sometimes life-threatening
Oiwoh noted that burns caused to the body by bleaching creams might be difficult to reverse.
According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, overusing skin-bleaching products can cause irreversible skin damage, and the skin might not return to its original condition even after bleaching has stopped.
The dermatologist said the process of skin-lightening has a lot of health risks attached to it, stating that almost all bleaching products are composed of either of the three active ingredients – namely Mercury, Hydroquinone, or various corticosteroids.
Oiwoh said these components when used without a prescription from a physician, dermatologist, or doctor can have serious effects on the skin.
He explained, “People must be sensitised to know that what they apply to the skin finds its way to the bloodstream and the entire body.
“The effects of the skin-lightening products vary per entity or as a combination depending on the constituents of the products.
“They wipe off the organisms that serve as soldiers to the skin, leaving it ‘naked’ and unprotected from many skin infections among which we have scabies, fungal infections of the skin, and viral infections.
“They can also cause stretch marks that are usually very ugly looking, wider, and deeper than we will have from other causes like obesity.”
The dermatologist further said, “The skin gets thinner over time then easy bruising of the skin, poor wound healing, and prominent dilated veins on the body (telangiectasias).”
“Skin cancer occurs as there is unprotected access to ultraviolet rays into the skin with subsequent burns, sun damage, and sun-induced change of the skin cells to cancerous types.”
Beyond skin damage, the skin specialist pointed out that the practice of skin bleaching could also damage internal organs of the body.
“The damaging effects of skin-lightening products in the body can involve damage to the kidneys (chronic kidney diseases), adrenals (Cushing syndrome), blood vessels (systemic hypertension), diabetes mellitus, cataracts, etc”, he added.
Oiwoh further said the reversal of the damaging effects of skin lightening practice depends on the type of damage, duration of use, and subsequent damage.
He said, “The skin damage and ‘reversibility’ depend on the type of skin lightening products used, the concentration used, the duration of use, and the extent of the ultraviolet exposure among others.
“What we call ‘burns on the face’ are exogenous ochronosis that results from the deposition of homogentisic acid in the deeper layer of the dermis. For this, the reversal is difficult.”
The dermatologist urged Nigerians to appreciate that being black, dark, or chocolate in skin complexion is not a mark of inferiority but a protective shield
“The melanin (black pigment in our skin) is the shield we have that protects our skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays.
“We must appreciate the reasons above for our colour. We must also realise that our colour is our identity.
“We must also appreciate that what we apply to the skin finds its way to the bloodstream and the entire body.
“Therefore, the erroneous impression that what is applied to the skin doesn’t reach the bloodstream is in the least damaging a piece of advice.”
“We can maintain a very beautiful, lovely, attractive skin colour without bleaching our skin by eating a balanced diet, having a regular intake of fruits and vegetables, adequate rest, and regular exercise.”
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