A mother in northern Nigeria is sharing her painful experience after using skin-lightening creams on her six children. Fatima, 32, now regrets her decision, as her children suffer from serious skin issues caused by the products. She feels deep remorse for the harm done under pressure from family and societal expectations.
Fatima’s two-year-old son has burns and discolored skin on his face and legs, and his wounds are slow to heal. One of her daughters hides her face in public to avoid embarrassment, while another has developed a pale circle around her eyes and whitish scars on her lips and knees. Fatima’s heart aches as she recalls how her mother favored her sister’s lighter-skinned children over her own, leading her to believe that lighter skin was better.
She purchased the creams without a doctor’s advice from a local supermarket in Kano. Initially, the creams seemed to work, and even Fatima’s mother began to accept her children. However, the positive effects quickly turned into burns and scars.
Skin-lightening, or bleaching, is common in Nigeria, with 77% of women reportedly using these products regularly, according to the World Health Organization. The trend is driven by cultural beliefs that associate lighter skin with beauty and status. In other African countries, the rates are lower, with 66% in Congo-Brazzaville, 50% in Senegal, and 39% in Ghana.
Many of these creams contain harmful ingredients like corticosteroids, hydroquinone, and even mercury, which can lead to serious health problems, including skin infections and kidney damage. The Nigerian government has declared a state of emergency regarding the use of these products due to the alarming health risks.
Fatima’s experience is not unique. Dermatology experts report that many women are now bleaching their children to shield them from discrimination. Zainab Bashir Yau, a spa owner in Abuja, estimates that 80% of women she meets have either bleached their children or plan to do so.
The market in Kano is bustling with vendors selling skin-whitening creams, some labeled for babies, despite containing restricted substances. Many buyers, including teenagers, are unaware of the dangers associated with these products. One mother, with discolored hands, insisted on adding a lightening agent to a cream for her children, believing it would help them.
Dr. Leonard Omokpariola from Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is working to raise awareness about the risks of these products. He notes that it is often difficult to identify harmful substances, as they can be sold in unmarked containers.
Fatima’s situation serves as a cautionary tale. She hopes to prevent other parents from making the same mistakes. Despite stopping the use of the creams, she worries about the lasting effects on her children and the stigma they face. She urges others to learn from her experience and to prioritize the health of their children over societal pressures.