"Nigeria's Heartbreaking Struggle with Skin Lightening: One Mother's Cautionary Tale"

Fatima, a mother from Kano, regrets her decision to use skin-lightening creams on her six children due to the painful burns and lasting scars they now bear. This stark account shines a light on Nigeria's pervasive culture of skin whitening, emphasizing the urgent need for education and policy changes as addiction to harmful beauty standards endangers the health of future generations.

A mother in northern Nigeria is visibly upset as she clutches her two-year-old child, who has burns and discolored skin on his face and legs. The 32-year-old used skin-whitening products on all six of her children, under pressure from her family, with results that she now deeply regrets.

Fatima, whose name has been changed to protect her family's identity, says one of her daughters covers her face whenever she goes out to hide her burns. Another daughter was left with a darker skin tone than before, sporting a pale circle around her eyes, while a third has whitish scars on her lips and knees. Her toddler still has weeping wounds that are slow to heal.

"Seeing my sister's light-skinned children favored by my mother hurt a lot," Fatima laments, sharing how societal standards of beauty led her to purchase creams from local supermarkets without medical guidance. Initially, the creams appeared effective, softening their grandmother's stance towards Fatima's children. Yet, the aftermath brought about burns and scars.

Skin-whitening, also referred to as bleaching, is widespread in Nigeria, where 77% of women reportedly use such products, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO). The creams often include harmful substances such as corticosteroids and hydroquinone, which pose serious health risks with prolonged use. Side effects can range from skin disorders to serious illnesses, including potential kidney damage.

The alarming situation prompted Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to declare a public health emergency in 2023. As the trend of bleaching children becomes more prevalent—a practice Fatima engaged in—experts like Zainab Bashir Yau, a dermatology spa owner in Abuja, report that it is often an inherited habit, with women continuing the cycle of skin-lightening for their offspring.

The ongoing stigma associated with skin tone is evident as Fatima's older daughters face discrimination, with peers erroneously labeling them as drug addicts due to the visible contrast in their skin tones.

During a visit to a bustling market in Kano, where "mixologists" concoct skin-lightening creams, it became clear that many products marketed even to children contained toxic ingredients. Customers appeared oblivious of the dangers, often requesting powerful agents for their children despite the potential for severe health repercussions.

Dr. Leonard Omokpariola from NAFDAC acknowledges the efforts being made to educate the public about these risks and the measures to seize harmful products at the borders. Yet, the clandestine nature of the trade poses ongoing challenges.

Fatima’s regret weighs heavily as she faces the reality of her actions and the lasting effects on her children's health. With her mother expressing remorse upon learning of the negative repercussions, she is driven to advocate for other parents to reconsider their choices. "Please, learn from my mistakes," she insists, hoping her story will prevent others from making the same detrimental decisions.