Skin bleaching fuelling surge in skin cancer, organ damage

• Dermatologists warn of hidden public-health crisis

Nigeria is now confronting what health experts describe as one of the most dangerous but least acknowledged public health crises in the country’s recent history: a rapidly escalating skin-bleaching epidemic that is directly fuelling a rise in skin cancer, severe infections, liver toxicity, kidney damage and irreversible destruction of the skin’s protective barrier.

The crisis—long hidden beneath beauty trends, cultural pressure and aggressive marketing—was brought into sharp focus at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Dermatological Clinic in Yaba, Lagos, where the Nigerian Association of Dermatologists (NAD) launched a nationwide anti-bleaching campaign tagged #EmbraceYourSkin. The event gathered dermatologists, public health experts, journalists, regulators and industry partners in what experts described as the most coordinated push yet to confront the epidemic.

From the outset, the tone was urgent. Speakers repeatedly emphasised that skin bleaching, often dismissed as a cosmetic preference or an aesthetic enhancement, has evolved into a widespread public health threat with consequences that extend far beyond the skin. “Skin bleaching is not a beauty choice. It is a health risk—and a deadly one,” said Prof. Dasetima Altraide, President of NAD. He described an explosion of cases involving skin cancer, treatment-resistant fungal infections, severe allergies, hypertension, liver and kidney damage, and permanent weakening of the skin’s structure. Many patients, he explained, arrive at hospitals only after significant internal damage has already occurred.

But the most distressing trend, he added, is the exposure of vulnerable populations—infants, children and unborn babies—to bleaching agents through topical products, oral substances and, increasingly, intravenous infusions. “We have seen pregnant women ingest drugs and concoctions to lighten their unborn babies. We see infants with adult-like hair patterns, yellowish patches and chronic infections due to creams mixed with steroids. This is deeply troubling,” he said. “Before these children can talk, they are already paying the price for a decision they never made.”

The statistics presented during the briefing painted an alarming picture. With skin-bleaching prevalence estimated between 40 and 84 percent, according to international health bodies, Nigeria has been repeatedly labelled the “world capital of skin bleaching”. Dermatologists say these numbers represent more than a trend—they represent a culture shaped over decades by colourism, global beauty standards and heavily marketed misinformation. Addressing the psychological drivers of bleaching, Prof. Altraide explained that many Nigerians pursue lighter skin not out of vanity but out of a misguided belief that it conveys privilege, opportunity or desirability. But this belief, he stressed, is costing people their health and shortening lives.

Throughout the two-hour briefing, experts dismantled common misconceptions that have allowed the bleaching industry to thrive. One of the most prevalent, they said, is the deceptive language used to disguise bleaching practices. “There is no difference between bleaching, toning or glowing,” said Dr. Erere Otrofanowei, Consultant Dermatologist at LUTH. “These are just linguistic masks that make the same harmful practice sound acceptable. Whether the label says ‘brightening’, ‘whitening’, or ‘clarifying,’ the intention is the same—and so is the damage.” She warned Nigerians to be extremely cautious of creams adorned with fruits, plants or vague “natural” claims, calling such packaging tactics “marketing traps designed to conceal harmful ingredients. When you see creams plastered with carrots, papaya or watermelon, run,” she said. “Eat fruits—don’t rub them on your skin.”

Social media, Otrofanowei added, has thrown fuel on the crisis, with TikTok and Instagram creating unrealistic standards through dramatic before-and-after bleaching videos. The harm being done in between those stages is never shown, she said. “People see the transformation but not the stretch marks, the thinning skin, the broken blood vessels or the infections. The skin around the eyes becomes so thin it can actually tear. None of that goes online.”

Perhaps the most heart-breaking revelation from the speakers was the growing number of children who are victims of bleaching. Dermatologists described treating infants with multiple skin infections, weakened immune systems and hormonal disturbances—conditions linked directly to early exposure to steroid-based or hydroquinone-laced creams. “Some mothers believe they must preserve the child’s ‘light birth colour,’” Otrofanowei said. “What they are actually doing is creating lifelong medical problems. This is dangerous ignorance.”

From a regulatory perspective, Dr. Ehiaghe Anaba of the Lagos State University College of Medicine stressed that while the government can restrict the sale of harmful chemicals, it cannot police individual choices behind closed doors. “The government cannot enter your house and confiscate your creams,” she said. “But what we can do is continue to tell the truth. Many people bleaching do not even know they are bleaching, because the products are disguised as organic or herbal.”

She called the growing obsession with “organic” skincare one of the most misleading trends of the decade. “Coconut oil is organic,” she said. “But once someone is mixing things for you, it is no longer safe. It becomes a cocktail of chemicals that can damage your skin in ways you will not see until years later.” Anaba also noted that Nigerians who bleach are unknowingly accelerating their aging process. “African skin ages slower because of melanin. When people bleach, they destroy that natural advantage. Suddenly, wrinkles, sagging and fragility appear much earlier than expected.”

Dr. Olarinoye Gboyega of FMC Nasarawa added that bleaching does not only damage the surface—it destabilises the entire immune system. “The skin is not decoration; it is an organ,” he said. “It protects you from toxins, infections and environmental hazards. When you bleach, you compromise its structure and allow danger to enter the body freely.” Gboyega cautioned that any cream promising fast results should be considered dangerous. Often, such products contain high concentrations of steroids, mercury or hydroquinone—substances that can poison the body.

From Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Belema Abbey provided a biological perspective, explaining the brilliance of melanin and its essential role in protecting Africans from ultraviolet radiation. “Melanin shields your DNA like an umbrella,” she said. “It is a natural defence system. When you lighten your skin, you weaken your shield.” She encouraged Nigerians to simplify their skincare routines and prioritise hydration, nutrition, adequate rest, sunscreen and basic moisturisers, reserving dermatologists for medically necessary concerns.

Throughout the event, a single message echoed from speaker to speaker: Nigerians must confront and reject the false narrative that dark skin is inferior. The experts stressed that beauty cannot be found in a jar, nor should self-worth be determined by pigmentation. The nationwide #EmbraceYourSkin campaign—supported by Eucerin and backed by NAFDAC and the Federal Ministry of Health—will roll out an intensive programme of public education, media engagement, school outreach, expert training and policy advocacy.

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As he closed the briefing, Prof. Altraide delivered what he called a “clarion call” to every Nigerian—parents, pharmacists, regulators, influencers and community leaders. “Your natural complexion is the best for you,” he said. “Skin health matters. Embrace your skin. Own your shade. You were born this way for a reason—and this shade is yours.”