As a dermatologist working in a multiethnic practice in the Netherlands I have seen quite a number of patients with skin of color, presenting with irreparable skin damage, caused by chemicals, used to obtain a lighter skin. These skin features are the result of the worldwide psychosocial drama of skin bleaching, a complex phenomenon, falling partly beyond the competence of medical profession. Skin bleaching is essentially the topical application of chemicals on a normal skin, usually the face, in order to obtain a lighter complexion. The majority of scientific and popular reports regarding skin bleaching come from Africa and Asia, but the procedure is also common in the Americas, the Caribbean and has been reported from Western Europe. It is a phenomenon deserving more attention from scientists and policymakers worldwide, taking into account the common use of skin bleaching agents and the harmful biological side effects and psychosocial implications.
The answer to the question why people bleach is based on limited research, but the more on ideas based on (scientific) intuition, just to mention some: it is the consequence of racial discrimination and a means to adapt to ideas about beauty related to the Eurocentric somatic and aesthetic ideal. Self hatred is proposed as a mechanism. Personal experience from interviewing patients learns that often males are prompting female partners to bleach. But skin bleaching is not limited to women; fans of Michael Jackson and other male artists have seen the skin of their idols becoming lighter and lighter.
Skin bleaching is probably rooted in the disharmonic structure of human societies, to be more precise in the way individuals of different race or ethnicity relate and interact, with people of lighter skin looking down on people with darker skin. It is boosted by psychological motives, deeply rooted in society, with several institutions and systems maintaining it, e.g. state laws, religion and film industry (Bollywood and Hollywood) with light skinned role models and multinationals producing and pushing skin bleaching agents.
Over time quite a number of different commodities have been applied to the skin in order to bleach, but at present hydroquinone and potent corticosteroids appear to be the most common products used. Nowadays hydroquinone-containing beauty products are prohibited in the European Union and in several African countries, because of their side-effects. But the demand for a lighter skin continues and manufacturers keep on advertising their products, take for instance the pushing of Fair and Lovely from Hindustan Unilever (with headquarters in Rotterdam and London) on the Indian subcontinent and Indonesia (see picture).
Here it is suggested that a lighter skin is more attractive.
Several types of adverse effects caused by skin bleaching can be recognized: 1. Skin damage: e.g. exogenous ochronosis, a paradoxical effect leading to a darker skin in stead of the desired whitening. 2. Damage to internal systems: e.g. internal hormonal derailment caused by absorption of potent corticosteroids through the skin 3. Cancer: the chemical structure of hydroquinone closely resembles benzene, a strong carcinogenic agent. It has been proven experimentally that hydroquinone fed orally to rats induces kidney tumors. Additional research is looked for to confirm the proposed carcinogenicity to humans caused by topical application. 4. Socio-psychological effects: We from Color foundation have the feeling that changing ones identity by bleaching of the skin might have an impact on the psychological and social stability; this hypothesis has to be substantiated by additional research.
The above outlined profile of skin bleaching compels us (Color foundation) to propose the organizing of an international expert meeting with as its goal the assessment of the scope of the problem worldwide in terms of incidence, cause and side effects. The ultimate objective would be to formulate a strategy for healthcare – and social – workers, policy makers and last but not least for the victims, the (potential) users and/or patients.
Henk Menke
November 15, 2008 at 7:08 pm |
I thank Dr. Henk Menke for elaborating the issue on Skin bleaching.
This is much the same in Africa.
I am a Kenyan Dermatologist and deep in the struggle to change attitudes embracing the Skin Bleaching practice( in a bid to acquire a lighter skin color.)
This has left many with disfiguring, devastating, self destroyed skin and body failure.
Having analyzed this absurd misconception of skin bleaching, it i evident that factors playing a major role are memories of historical slavery, colonization, and discrimination, and present day display of “White Skin” models in the advertising media, bill boards, etc in Africa.
This upholds “whites” as icons of beauty.
The fact that affluence, job opportunities and success were at one time, the preserve of WHITES, also contributed to the craving for a lighter skin.
Unscrupulous traders and stake holders have successfully made this SKIN BLEACHING industry grow with all kinds of noxious products which endanger the lives of many caught in this false idea that “WHITE skin is supreme”.
A practice that started with home made concoctions in clay pots, use of herbs, muds, soil and non defined caustic substances, has now reached levels of international syndicates.
These enjoy freedom to market and sell where stringent legislation, law-enforcement and surveillance is not the order of the day in some African countries.
Campaigns, seminars, media information has now curtailed the practice, but we cannot deny that Skin Bleaching is still a major problem and requires our continued efforts.
Kenya, fortunately is at the better end of this spectrum that plagues the African continent
.
It is encouraging to note that Caucasian ladies now incorporate trendy African style in their fashion arena, African dress, and ethnic hair styles (braiding, plaiting).
We observe that there is some recognition across nations, not only of Black skin as attractive, but more importantly that non- whites are in no way inferior or less competent that lighter skin people.
Barack Obama having his paternal ethnicity from Kenya, is a great pride and joy for us.
This will undoubtedly have a positive change of discriminatory attitudes to fellow human beings.
Let us all work to make people proud of their God given color.
“Black is Beautiful”