Nigerians Break Record in Skin Bleaching – Health Minister
Post created on 12:02 pm
Nigeria has been rated the highest in skin bleaching worldwide, and the constant use of these products by men and women has become a concern for the nation as steps are being made to sensitize people about its dangers.
Speaking at an event in Gabon, a regional awareness-raising workshop on the elimination of lightening cosmetic products, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, urged West Africans to be mindful of products containing hydroquinone, mercury, and similar substances that cause damage to both the skin and internal organs, as well as cancer.
However, on Wednesday in Abuja, Dr. Salako lamented that despite the documented harmful effects of these products, such as creams, ointments, soaps, pills, and injections, they are still common among brown-skinned individuals around the world, particularly among men and especially women.
He stated that Nigeria is in the process of developing a National Policy on Cosmetics to ensure the safety and quality of cosmetic products that are free from dangerous substances.