According the World Health Organisation, 8 out of 10 Nigerian women bleach their skin. According to Aljazeera’s report, the is not only common among women but also with men.
Most of the women bleach because they want to look beautiful in a continent where being beautiful is measured on the fairness of your skin. Staying black, is not beautiful.
The women believe it will afford them to opportunity to become successful as well as in finding a husband.
The World Health Organisation says more than 70 percent of Nigerian women admit they use such products — even though they are aware of the health risk that is associated with bleaching the skin.
While Nigeria has the highest percentage, it is not only in Nigeria that women bleach their skin. The trend is common across most black African countries. The use of skin bleaching products in Togo for example, is 59 percent while that in Senegal is 27.
Below is Aljazeera’s video report
