NAFDAC Warns On The Consequences Of Bleaching

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria has the world’s highest percentage of people who bleach in the world. Indeed, Nigerian women and more recently men have become obsessed with bleaching creams without minding the consequences. Even more worrisome is some women applying these creams on their children. A report on Daily Sun has revealed that bleaching causes mercury poisoning as experts have said any thing applied to alter the original nature of the skin could be harmful to the body. According to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the continued use of bleaching products could cause serious psychiatric, neurological and kidney problems. Speaking further on the issue, the Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, said the urge to beautify the skin with cosmetic products did not start today, but opined that the urge is higher and riskier today as many now go for products capable of altering their natural skin tone. Orhii said: ”For centuries men and women have utilized cosmetics to enhance or alter physical appearance by cleansing, beautifying, and combating external manifestations of aging. In recent times, however, there are demands for greater benefits from cosmetics with greater aesthetic effects, which may now affect the function and structure of certain body parts. ”Skin bleaching is cosmetic treatment to reduce the prominence of skin discolorations and even out the color of the skin. Some people apply skin lighteners to their entire body to change their complexion, but this can be very risky. ”Active ingredient in some skin lighteners is mercury, which can lead to mercury poisoning,” Orhii said.