Photo Credit:Youtube
Of
recent, there has been a huge increase in the number of African ladies
bleaching. It is an increasing and worrying trend among young African ladies.
According to a recent WHO survey, Nigeria tops the chart with about 77% likely
to buy or use a bleaching product. Bleaching or Whitening of skin
has become a multi- million dollars booming business for anyone in cosmetic
business with clients with high needs of bleaching products.
To
put it in the right context ‘bleaching or whitening of skin’ is the removal of
the first or/and second layer of skin. This is often used interchangeably and
sometimes in lesser context as ‘TONNING’. This process can be carried out with
the use of whitening creams and other natural products.
Bleaching
has been on for decades among African women, but the concern is the growing
number of young black women ‘changing very suddenly’ and becoming ‘white’
‘fairer’ overnight.
Although
everyone may have reasons for doing what they do, this trend is becoming
worrying and for me, the underlying problem has to do with the issue of “YOU”
and “YOUR SELF-ESTEEM”. One of the foremost proponents of the African struggle
retorted that: I am proud of my colour, he who is not proud of his colour is
not fit to live”. I am of the opinion that this trend is reflecting desperation
among ladies to get ‘accepted’ ‘attractive’ or woo the right type of guys.
Some
people are of the school of thought that the fair skin ladies appeal to men more
than the dark skin ones which makes desperation set in for some.
Note!
Any man who does not love you in your natural colour or will tell you that he
will prefer you light skin, is not worth dating! Let’s swap post; can any man
bleach or whitens his skin because of any woman? NO! So ladies while do it to
keep a man. THINK!
There
is a classic case of two women that I can recollect very vividly that decided
to use skin whitening/bleaching products in Nigeria. They were nicknamed ‘Coke
and Fanta’ as you could see a variety of skin colouration across different
parts of their bodies.
Appreciate
yourself the way God has created you. If you are naturally fair good for you!
If you are naturally black, good for you! Have you ever had of the saying: BLACK
is BEAUTIFUL or I am BLACK AND PROUD.
Ironically,
during summer, White ladies will sun tan or even do fake tan to make their skin
darker meaning they are longing to have a bit of
colour to their own skin, while you are longing for theirs’ to seek
acceptance from men or for some to be more beautiful? Come on
ladies, let’s have a rethink!
While
the argument about whether to use or not to use will persist, the key question
is that we have to think carefully about what chemicals we apply to the skin and
the repercussion or consequences of our actions.
Harmful Effects of Skin Whitening or Bleaching includes:
Dark grey spots
Acne
Swelling of the skin
Thinning of the skin
Cataracts
Increase in appetite and weight gain
Osteoporosis
Neurological and kidney damage due to high level of mercury used in the
creams
Psychiatric disorders
Asthma
Liver damage
Skin lesion and cancer
Some of these side effects could be seen almost immediately while some
are seen after prolonged use of skin whitening creams.
You
can look very good without whitening your skin. What makes a woman is not the
colour of her skin but as Martin Luther says: “is the content of her character”. Your beauty is not just of the outside but of the inside. What
makes a woman is therefore the content not the container. You may polish your container
but if the content is empty, you will only make noises. However, for some people,
success in life may be associated with external looks!
I am
BOLD, BEAUTIFUL AND AN AFRICAN WOMAN. MY CONTENT IS GOOD AND MY CONTAINER IS
GREAT!
TAKE
CARE!!!
©Funmi
Adeyemo,2016
References:
India parenting
http://howafrica.com
www.nhs.uk
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