₦airaland Forum

by Halima Abdallah Kisule
- Uganda -


Scores of Ugandans continue to bleach their skin despite a government ban on the sale of several lotions, creams, gels and soaps which are largely used to whiten, even and tone the skin.


• In extreme cases of skin bleaching, the skin can become multi-colored and marred with inflammation or scarring. Photograph courtesy of Halimah Abdallah Kisule. •Due to ineffective enforcement of the ban, these dangerous cosmetics are easily accessible anywhere in Uganda; whether sold over the counter, along the roadside or by hawkers, vendors move the skin lighteners easily due to high demand. Such is the popularity that skin-whitening products have gained today in Uganda.
Medically, skin whitening (or bleaching) products are used for treating pigmentation disorders like freckles, pregnancy marks, blotchy uneven skin tone, patches of brown to gray skin and age spots. Skin pigmentation occurs because the body either produces too much or too little melanin, the pigment responsible for creating the color of our eyes, skin and hair. It also provides crucial protection against the sun’s rays by absorbing ultra-violet light. Doctors say that those with darker skin are less susceptible to sunburn and the overall effects of sun damage.


According to dermatologists, skin bleaching can be achieved through a combination of treatments that reduce or block some amount of the body’s melanin production. Usually in the form of topical lotions, gels, pills and creams, these products contain melanin-inhibiting ingredients along with sunscreen. These treatments also contain amounts of hydroquinone, or mercury.

However, other cosmetics companies use natural ingredients to make melanin-inhibiting products. Extracted from plant leaves like the berry family, shrubs and pears, their naturally occurring arbutin leads to bleaching.


In Uganda, the practice of skin bleaching is common among adults with dark skin, especially women, but men also do it with little regard for the dangers posed to their bodies. Some people even use the products for anal bleaching to reduce naturally darker pigmentation of the genital and perineal area.

Consumers of bleaching cosmetics claim that they want to enhance their beauty. One woman who declined to be named, explains, “One has to look good, by having fair, lighter skin.”

Unfortunately, her skin is now multi-colored from bleaching. She has red skin on her face, yellow on her arms and dark skin on her back. The skin on her knees, toes and finger joints failed to lighten and remain black.
For this woman, the condition of her skin has only brought her shame; she now tries to cover most parts of her body in an attempt to conceal the damage done by the products she thought would enhance her beauty.

Those in the medical profession explain that this condition occurs from allergic dermatitis or irritant dermatitis (abnormal, extensive and often local inflammation of the skin), both of which are common among people who have not previously used the bleaching cosmetics.

“I have cases where people get severe skin burns. It happens when people change to something new which causes allergic dermatitis and irritant dermatitis,” says Dr Misaki Wayengera of Makerere University Medical School.

He explains that the skin of the people using these bleaching products get inflamed, turns red, enlarges and begins to loose function as the cells fail to produce melanin.

Wayengera says that bleaching can be achieved medically using low dosage hydroquinone, recommended at 2%. He advises that it should be used only in the areas of the skin that need to be lightened. He also advised consumers to always read the contents of cosmetics because those that bleach cause health problems like skin cancer, leukemia, thyroid disorders and delay or prevent the ability to diagnose leprosy. Mercury is the most toxic of these ingredients and leads to liver problems.

Though the East African Custom Management Act of 2006 banned the import of all soaps containing mercury, products like Mekako soaps are readily available in the country having been smuggled in before being re-exported to neighboring Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

“They are smuggled in jerricans disguised as water while others come in through ordinary containers but are declared as cosmetics, when [in reality] they are drugs that fall under the NDA mandate,” says Gyavira Musoke, Head of Imports Inspection at Uganda’s National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).
UNBS says that Kenya is blaming Uganda for failing to stop the importation of this toxic cosmetic despite the existence of the law. This is just one of the 400 prohibited cosmetic ingredients (that are defined as drugs under the Uganda National Drug Authority (NDA) regulations) that are on the open market. Products containing hydroquinone are still for sale after traders asked the Ministry of Tourism to give them some time to sell off their stock.

Ready markets for these highly valued cosmetics suggest that smuggling won’t stop any time soon, but demand alone does not explain why one would continue to use these dangerous products.

“Such a person lacks self-esteem, has low self-efficacy and a perception that she or he looks ugly,” says Mr Robert Wandera, Coordinator of the Psychology Department at Makerere University. “It is common among women who are not educated,” he adds.

Wandera’s colleague, Mr Calistas, says that it is very dangerous to have low self-esteem because severe cases can lead to suicide.

He urges, “Do something positive to counter [your low self-esteem]. Take advantage of the good parts of your body or talents.”

Prolonged use of bleaching cosmetics can indeed be disastrous both psychologically and physically. One lady who I encountered on the street declined to be named nor talk about her skin. Her dry, pale face showed no happiness. She had wrinkles too - not from old age, but from the effects of starting and then stopping the use of these cosmetics. I could easily read the disappointment in her face when I asked her to talk about her skin. Her response is a clear testimony to the negative effects of bleaching cosmetics and hint at the lengths some will go to for beauty. Her unhappiness is the other side of beauty that we rarely see, but one that can easily be avoided.



About the Author
Halimah Abdallah Kisule is a journalist in northern Uganda who, for the last seven years, has covered human rights, health, diplomacy, politics and education for numerous news outlets. She holds a diploma in Journalism and Media Studies and will soon receive her BA in Education from Makere University in Kampala.

Previously she worked for the independent newspapers, The Daily Monitor and The Weekly Observer, covering law and human rights issues, providing both with extensive investigative journalism.

Halimah endeavors to use her writing skills to bring awareness to the human struggle and find solutions to society's problems. She is married with two children

GatorLink:
Considered unhygienic

bacteria might enter the nails (pretty risky if you're eating solid food such as eba, iyan, amala etc)

Prevents sickness. . . .the most shared "item" universally.

Sure, it's just from your plate. . . .but I think it's disgusting.


I'm not a neat freak o, but there are just some things that make me go crazy. I can't go out without a bottle of hand sanitizer.

As long as your hands/fingers are properly washed (and sanitized) i don't see why you shoudn't continue with your food  though . . .

GatorLink:
I was brought up like this:

1. Go to the restroom and wash your hands
2. Come to the tableand eat
3. Go to the restroom and wash your hands.

If anytime you want to use the restroom during number 2, you have 2 options

1. Finish eating quickly (with some manners), then you can head to the restroom
2. Go to the restroom, but don't bother coming back to the table. It's considered unsanitary.

I mean i can understand it if two people are sharing the same dish/es. But if you are eating from your own dish, i don't see any reason why you shouldn't be allowed to finish your meal . . . .

From the last i heard, she is getting back with her baby daddy

GatorLink:
Well maybe. . . . infact, i kinda gree with you

@bolded,
plzzz tell them oh, am begining to think that nlers knows nothing about hygeine.

Come to my house and eat. Get up and go to the restroom while eating, trust me, your food wnt be there when you get back

expantiate please . . .

Czarskit:
It's Plain Nonsense! I do what I want, when I want, how I want, with whon I want etc
Make purge hold u first, whether u go prefer to. . .

shit for him body

Radiant:
Funny people. . . Tangle ko, triangle ni

It takes 3 to engage in triangle love

eyonigger:
Its quite surprising when I figure out that some people still feel ashamed/shy doing some specific things, example in specifics , Like ur in an eatery with ur new date, and you feel like using the toilet, but you refuse to go to tha toilet coz ur shy/ashamed?, or the food ur both eating, the girl dnt wana eat well just cos she is shy/ashamed?, do yall think this is a matter of complex or plain nonsense?

Those who do that do it in the first stage of the relationship e.g on the first date. But as soon as you get used to your partner, you feel more comfortable being you

So you guys have turned my post into an English class . . .? LOL

spikedcylinder:
Lol. Did you recently snatch someone?

Backup:
Did you snatch anybody

And by the way it's not Tango,It's Tangle.

Oh no . . .  I don't play such games. . . My man was as single as he came

Every now and then, you keep hearing people say 'she snatched my man' or 'he snatched my woman' as if they are toys, heeelllooo? If your man or

woman get snatched, it was done with their consent and stop blaming it on the other party----it takes two to tango. It#s even worse when you see

women threatening their husbands mistress(es) in public(and private). I watched a nollywood movie titled 'reloaded'. And in one of the scenes ramsey's

wife even locked up his mistress in their house and beat her mercilessly, this is something that happens in real life.


A woman who lets herself get snatched is not worth your troubles

A man who lets himself get snatched is not worth your palava

spikedcylinder:
Are they still together sef?

yep

MrCrackles:
Goodluck

I hope you wont snap your ankles into 2 or 3 one day!

No, they won't 

I wear 13 inch heels to parties and 8-10 inches when taking a walk. I don't have a problem wearing heels. My next target is a 20 incher

Was it love at first sight? Fate? Destiny? Did you have a good feeling? What was it like? How long did it take for you to realize he/she is the one Share your stories!



My husband and I were friends first. We knew each other for over a year and got along well. We hadn't seen each other for awhile, and then ran into each other, and before that day was over, he had asked me out for the first time. That was on Super Bowl Sunday. By Valentine's Day, we were unofficially engaged. How I knew--he is the kind of person that I can be completely myself with. I am an introvert by nature, and I am completely relaxed with him. We share the same values and have very similar interests and personalities, too.

SeanT21:
If You can't stand the heat,GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN!!

geolabious:
[size=13pt]Yes Thats the koko[/size]

Raymond88:
I don't give a Bleep about these celebrities, but i do care about free speech and that's why i replied your thread!!

I usually don't give any speech whether they are free or not to anything that i don't give a shit about. 

sexyLeamon:
the link didn't work

To watch the interview. Type: http://www.africanvoice.co.uk/

And then, click under 'latest video exclusive' the category 'nollywood meet your stars'. On the right side, you will see interview with Kate Henshaw.

Have fun watching

If you didn't give a fukc then why on earth did you waste your time in replying a thread you didn't give a fukc about? Let me help you answer the question. You actually give a FUKC about it

Raymond88:
Who gives a Bleep? if i have something to say about a celebrity I'll say it!!

Rams:
lol so true!!

syphillis:
abi ooo

fe32:
waste of time, if you like am or not, wetin consign us

Exactly, wetin consign you for this thread?

[quote author=~smurf link=topic=205679.msg3202747#msg3202747 date=1228857817]So what exactly are we supposed to now not speak of them or what? :oEmi sef CELEBUTANTE, [/quote]Oh no, that was not my intention. You just have to bear in my mind that they might be reading some of the things you write about them as in ogiri leti

syphillis:
no big deal,kate should know that people will always talk,its not a must alot of people will like her,same goes to other actors and actresses

@poster

d way u posted it,i was beginning to think u saw this actors and actresses as ur God,they r mere mortals for heavens sake,alot have been said bout non starts,so why should theirs be diff,because they r stars or what?

give us a break hon

It's just that sometimes we write things we PROBABLY would never tell them face to face because we believe they're probably never gonna read them anyways

davidylan:
the interview dey too boring. I couldnt even finish it

You could fast forward it and start watching after 9 minutes

ibkaye:
which interview

To watch the interview. Type: http://www.africanvoice.co.uk/

And then, click under 'latest video exclusive' the category 'nollywood meet your stars'. On the right side, you will see interview with Kate Henshaw.

Have fun watching

For those of you who speak ill of celebrities, here is good news for you. Some of them are actually members of nairand, naijarules and other websites and they READ some of the things we write about them so beware A memnber of NAIJARULES 'ccaseyg' was caught red-handed by Kate Henshaw. Kate has a message for her in the video interview below. Enjoy


To watch the interview. Type: http://www.africanvoice.co.uk/

And then, click under 'latest video exclusive' the category 'nollywood meet your stars'. On the right side, you will see interview with Kate Henshaw. You could fast forward it and start watching after 9 minutes.

Have fun watching




http://www.africanvoice.co.uk/

Below is CCaseyg's comment about Kate on Naijarules:




05-01-2004, 05:49 PM
ccaseyg ccaseyg is offline
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my pt of view clicked on rong button though
I don't seem to understand that so many people find this particular actress very talented. She is the most horrible i have ever had the displeasure to view. Lets annalyze her artistically, her voice is just plain horrible, her act is all wrong, her mov'ts too.She must do something about her lips(extreme makeover), her voice is very manly and she need to train it. She need to look less plain her looks are all monotonous in all her movies for your xter in one movie will never be the same in the next movie. She must try to change her look according to her roles.This goes to all other nigerian actores and actresses esp Rita Dominic. Her choice of outfits too has to be looked after. To cut all this short she is the most boring actress ever to pair he up with Saint Obi was a grievious mistake.

http://www.naijarules.com/vb/kate-henshaw-nuttal-fan-club/1988-kate-henshaw.html

Dakore ----it's a lovely name

Adaeze, a wa leyin e jare