The Ivory Coast government has issued a ban against skin-lightening products, which they have deemed a health hazard

The Ivory Coast government has banned skin-lightening products as it fears they may have serious health implications for those who use them.
The ban has been issued for products such as whitening creams, and lotions containing mercury and its derivatives, cortisone, vitamin A or more than two percent hydroquinone, The Guardian reports.

“The number of people with side effects caused by these medicines is really high,” said Christian Doudouko, a member of the Ivory Coast’s pharmaceutical authority, warning that they could cause skin cancer. Dermatologist Elidje Ekra told The Guardian that cultural stereotypes are the reason why African women bleach their skin. “In our cultures, some people think women with light skin are the most beautiful. This beauty standard . . . pushes many girls to depigment their skin,” he said.

He added that the media plays a big role in enforcing such stereotypes as it conveys the message that the lighter your skin is, the better your life will be. Skin-lightening has been a hot topic for a number of years now, with South Africans becoming even more aware of the issue when singer Nomasonto ‘Mshoza’ Mnisi made headlines for bleaching her skin.

Speaking to DESTINY about colourism professor and ethnographer Dr Yaba Blay shared the same sentiments as Ekra about the media’s powerful influence on women, making them believe they are not beautiful unless they are light-skinned. She also mentioned that despite knowing the health hazards of using these products, thousands of women continue to use them anyway.


“They are aware that it’s going to hurt, but for them the benefits of light skin and the perceived social benefits far outweigh the risk. For them, the process of lightening the skin is less painful than having dark skin. “It’s nothing short of a way of life for some people. In the same way that you would not think twice about taking a shower and putting on lotion, I think it’s the same sort of logic.

“Just as you don’t have to explain why you put on lotion, for many people using skin lightening creams it’s exactly the same thing. It becomes part of their daily ‘skincare’ routine and they don’t have to explain why.” While there are many people who still believe that lightening their skin is beneficial, the side effects can be life threatening.

According to WebMD, using skin-lightening products for a prolonged period could increase the risk of contracting cancer.
Other risks associated with using these products include premature ageing. Steroids in some of the products may also increase the risk of the skin thinning and prolong the time it takes for a wound to heal.


http://www.destinyconnect.com/2015/05/07/ivory-coast-bans-skin-lightening-products/

We need such ban here in Nigeria!

if they try it in Nigerian Yoruba women go trek go Cotonou

temitemi1:
We need such ban here in Nigeria!

Oh yes, more than any other country. We don't even know who is originally fair in complexion anymore.