In their quest to change the pigment of their
black colour to that of white, Ghanaian women now resort to using
cement to bleach their skin.
This was revealed by Director, Chief
Physician and Consultant Dermatologist of Rabito Clinic, Professor
Edmund Delle, in an interview with Today.
According to him, people mix all kinds of chemicals with cement and pepsodent to whiten their skin.
He said even though the bleaching process has
been known for thousands of years, chemicals currently used was as a
result of work of several of 18th century scientists.
Prof. Delle noted that chlorine is the basis for the most commonly used bleaches.
He stated that bleaches are household
chemicals to whiten clothes and remove stains and as disinfectants,
primarily in the bathroom and kitchen, which have strong bactericidal
properties.
He said the most commonly used skin
lightening creams include monobenzone, tranexamic acid, mequinol and
peau clear creams which contain exogenous ochronosis and hydroquinone
that are dangerous chemicals.
Prof. Delle also revealed that to quicken the
whitening of the skin, some women swallow glutatuine pills and fairing
creams that also contain lead and mercury.
He noted that the harmful effects of skin
bleaching include dark grey spots, skin cancer, acne, swelling and
thinning of the skin, cataract, neurological and kidney damage due to
high level of mercury used in creams, severe birth defects, asthma,
liver damage and psychiatric disorders.
Speaking on the theme; “Black is beautiful,
keep it,” he advised women in particular to desist from bleaching as it
has adverse effects on their skin and health in general which is very
expensive to repair.
Culled from GhanaVibes.....
Culled from GhanaVibes.....
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