A medical officer at the Ankaful Leprosy & General Hospital in Cape Coast, Dr. Emmanuel Boakye has cautioned the general public against skin bleaching.
Ghanaian women, currently, stand among the highest-ranked in Africa with regards to the use of skin whitening products according to a study published by CNN.
Skin bleaching is basically the technique of employing chemicals to lighten the skin in an effort to achieve a more equal skin tone by diminishing the skin’s melanin content.
The effectiveness of certain chemicals in skin whitening has been shown, but the toxicity or safety of others has been questioned. Mercury-containing compounds, such as those that have been linked to neurological and renal issues, are among them.
Dr. Boakye says the disturbing side effects of skin bleaching should be enough caution to deter anyone from the act.
Speaking on ATLFM on Monday, he explained that though the serious side effect may not be immediate, it may show up long after one stops using the products.
He noted in order to prevent debilitating diseases, users of skin whitening or bleaching creams must be cautious.
Children are at higher risk when their skin is bleached because their bodies are different from adults.
With a growing trend of skin bleaching in children, Dr. Boakye warned mothers against using such chemicals on their babies after birth as the side effects may be permanent.
The CNN study is part of ‘White lies‘, a series by CNN’s As Equals investigating skin whitening practices that aim to uncover the root causes of colorism, the business that benefits from it, and the social and economic costs to people and communities.
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Source: Rosemond Asmah/ATLFMNEWS
