Nigeria has launched a nationwide campaign to curb skin bleaching, as doctors warned that the widespread use of skin-lightening products is driving rising cases of skin cancer, organ damage and serious complications among adults, children and unborn babies.
The campaign, themed: “EmbraceYourSkin” unveiled in Lagos by the Nigerian Association of Dermatologists (NAD), comes amid growing concern that skin bleaching has shifted from a cosmetic trend into a public health crisis in Africa’s most populous country.
Skin bleaching involves the use of topical creams, cosmetic procedures, oral tablets and, increasingly, intravenous infusions to lighten skin tone. Many of these products contain harmful substances such as steroids, mercury and hydroquinone, which doctors say can cause irreversible skin damage and long-term harm to internal organs.
