Skin bleaching and its far reaching consequences

This particular post has to be done. We have to acknowledge it because it has become some sort of fad. It is likely going to earn me some ‘side eye’.
Skin bleaching. The rave of the moment.

The skin has two major layers. From top down. The epidermis and dermis. There’s a third layer called the subcutaneous tissue or hypodermis  which is mainly composed of fat. The first layer also has 4 other layers. In the lowermost part of the 4 layers is where you have the cells that give colour to the skin

Those cells are called the melanocytes. All human beings (whether white, black or blue) have the same number of melanocytes. The difference that explains the color is the size, the way pigment is packed in the melanocytes amongst other things. The melanocytes produces melanin

The type of melanin produced also determines the colour you have. Those are the major differences that explain the colour. The sun produces UV light. They are of three types UVA, UVB, UVC. Of the three of them, only the first two gets to us. The ozone layer filters off the third

UVA is responsible for pigmentation aka tanning. UVB is responsible for sunburn and can predispose to skin cancers. Caucasians are more at risk of skin cancers than blacks. This is because black skin gives about 55% UV light protection naturally and white skin about 18%

It is ironic because we never appreciate what we have. The Caucasian is trying to get a tan, black skinned people are trying to get white. When you bleach your skin, you are indirectly making your skin more like a Caucasian skin. Increasing your risk of skin cancers

I have had the opportunity of seeing Caucasian patients firsthand. First every 10 patients that come in, half of them have or has had one skin cancer or the other.
Most Caucasians actually do a lot of sun protection with the use of sunscreens and wearing sun-protective clothing especially those with a family history of skin cancer.

Here in Nigeria, most patients bleach their skin without sun protection. How many of the celebrities who bleach their skin walk around in the afternoon? They use sunscreen liberally and they also use high end products. Then a lot of Instagram filters also work too

People are resorting to use of very high potency steroids, hydroquinone amongst others. Other people call it ‘organic’. Some call it brightening, some call it whitening. Since we have seen that people have developed conductive deafness to ‘don’t bleach’..we have to use other means to pass the message across

So I’ll just say..’Love the skin that you have’ and care for it in the best way possible. It is NORMAL for your face to be darker than other skin parts except you wear niqab (the covering that some muslim women use to cover all parts of their face). It is the part in direct contact with the sun. You can use gentle exfoliating products like glycolic wash and tea tree wash. Make sure you use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 at all times. UVA penetrates the windows. So it is necessary to use a sunscreen even at home. Repeat application every 4 hours (especially if it’s a sunscreen with chemical blockers). Eat a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water. AVOID use of medicated or antibacterial soaps except if prescribed by a dermatologist. Stop taking away your good bacteria with medicated soaps. You need them as much as they need you. And Please stop mixing triple action creams with your child’s sheabutter. E ma koba awon omo olomo.

Incase you still insist on bleaching yourself to oblivion and you still want to be an alaigboran..if you do develop skin cancer..I also do dermatologic surgery. I will help you out.
And not to forget all the systemic diseases that can develop after long term bleaching

We say it jokingly in our clinic that once the cream has an orange cover…it is usually a bleaching cream.

Take care of your skin. It will take care of you too. It needs just very little to be healthy. Love the skin that you have….and watch yourself glow from within. If you have an issue, see a Dermatologist. Or at least a doctor.
The skin is the window to all other internal organs. Be gentle on your skin. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before we have this sign called the ‘boli sign’in dermatology ‘