Nigeria Has The Highest Percentage Of Bleaching Cases In The World.

It is no longer news that Nigeria has the highest rate of  skin bleaching in the world. Did you know that 77% of Nigerian women use skin bleaching products, Did you also know that skin bleaching leads to cancer of the skin?

"All these pills, soaps and injections people are using have side-effects," explains Trisha Oseafiana, a chemistry graduate who knows many girls who bleach their skin. "It starts with skin irritations, burns and - before you know it - it develops into cancer."


In Nigeria, Skin lightening products and creams are widely available in local markets and cost from around N4000 to N5000 and even N7000 (for those who wants immediate result).

Those who are involved in this trade explains that it is possible to make as much as N25,000/day selling this dreaded skin bleaching soaps, creams and other materials. In a recent report on skin bleaching in Nigeria (find the report here: ( http://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/pu... ) the World Health Organisation states Nigeria has the highest users of skin bleaching products in the world - nearly 3/4's of all Nigerian women. They warn that high levels of mercury in the bleaching creams and cosmetics can cause kidney, lung and brain damage.

So why do Nigerian women bleach their skin? No one would talk to us on camera and admit to bleaching their skin, but many said it was to attain a lighter complexion - see as more attractive.

But many of the men we interviewed appear to have little interest in lighter girls:

"I don't like bleaching girl," says one young guy. "I like chocolate-chocolate-chocolate girls!"

"It's disgusting for someone to be bleaching," said another guy.