Why would women want to change their complexion?

She has invested a fortune in toning up her skin using all sort of lightening creams; she has also visited a couple of cosmetologists around just to pull off a younger look. However, her wrinkled neck and knuckles tell more of her age, contrasting with her facial decorations. One of her kids, Jane, 27, takes […]

She has invested a fortune in toning up her skin using all sort of lightening creams; she has also visited a couple of cosmetologists around just to pull off a younger look.

However, her wrinkled neck and knuckles tell more of her age, contrasting with her facial decorations.

One of her kids, Jane, 27, takes after her style.  As a banker in her middle management cadre, she can afford to tone up in spite of her already fresh-looking skin.

Nowadays, a number of dark-skinned people are yearning for fairer complexion and the lighter skinned ones want to become even fairer.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 77 per cent of Nigerians use skin lightening soaps and creams on a regular basis especially females between the ages 15 to 35.

So, why do women want to change their colour — to attract the opposite sex, to look forever young or even to enhance their self-esteem or could it just be as a result of lack in self confidence?

Studies shown that many African and Asian women secretly desire this so-called beauty enhancement because they believe the lighter your skin is, the more attractive you look and the more attention you get from the men.

However, Equolor, a 27 year old dark-skinned public servant, says that she does not understand why people want their skin to look lighter, for her she is satisfied with her colour.

“Why would I want to spend so much money trying to change my skin colour especially now that we know the damage it can cause to the skin? I think if women were content with their looks, they wouldn’t venture into such extremities.’’

Dumebi, a 40- year- old banker says that she thinks people who bleach have complex issues, adding that if you are proud of your skin colour you wouldn’t want to change it.

Angela a 25-year- old student, says “a little enhancement of the skin completion is not a bad idea but once it gets out of control, it becomes an issue.  You see some ladies who have fair faces and black necks or have green veins or stretch marks as a result of bleaching.’’

She also says that some ladies want to change their skin colour because they feel men are attracted to light-skinned ladies.

Mr Adetoun Ajiboye, a psychologist,  says that the issue of bleaching or toning  has to do with social conformity and inferiority complex, explaining that a woman may see another lady, admire her looks and decide she wants to look like her.

“For instance, if a lady is trusting God for a husband and probably the last four ladies she knew who got married were light skinned, she may begin to think, OK, if I’m lighter in clolour, I would probably get a husband.

“Another thing is the feeling of inferiority and low self-esteem; some ladies have this misconception that the lighter skinned ladies are more beautiful, so they begin to feel inadequate with their darker complexion and start using creams to change it.’’

Ajiboye says that the decision to bleach is a function of the mind and such people should ask themselves: why do I want to change my skin colour? Is it to look “beautiful’’ or because being light-skinned is the vogue?

A dermatologist, Dr Olarewaju Falodun says: “After some research I did on the era of slave trade, I discovered that the lighter-skinned slaves were given better treatment and they were sold for a little more.

“So over time, people felt that being lighter gives a greater advantage somehow and that is how this thing came into our part of the world.

“I also read somewhere that people have this notion that the lighter your complexion is, the more beautiful you are, which is very wrong.’’

Falodun explained that bleaching and toning is the same thing because the products that are used for either purpose are things that will lighten or bleach the skin.

“In our own context, toning appears to be more acceptable and when you talk about toning,  it is OK, but when you say bleaching, then people look at you as somebody that has committed a crime.’’

“Really for a greater majority of people, they want to do bleaching and they just call it toning.”

There are several agents women use to lighten the skin which include hydroquinone, steroids and kojic acid.

Studies show that hydroquinone is a naturally occurring compound and it is commonly found in skin lightening creams and creams meant to reduce age spots or blemishes.

“Hydroquinone lightens your skin by breaking down cells that produce the skin pigment melanin. After four weeks of using a hydroquinone-containing product, you should notice lightening of the area to which you applied the cream.”

Melanin is what gives the skin its colour and it is nature’s way of preventing the skin from the sun’s harmful radiation.

According to studies, prior to 2006, creams featuring hydroquinone could be obtained over the counter in the U.S., but since then the Food and Drug Administration banned it because of its potential toxicity.

Falodun also says that there are severe side effects of using these lightening creams which include predisposing the skin to injury.

“ The skin is meant to be a particular layer thick, by the time you do a lot of bleaching, the skin becomes very thin and that is not good .

“So, the tendency for the skin to easily get injured is very high and when injury is there, healing is very poor.

“If someone who has bleached the skin goes for surgeries, wound healing is also very poor. There have been instances when one does some procedures, you realise that when you use your instrument to pick the skin, it begins to tear apart.”

He says that these agents, especially in hydroquinone, cause patchy discoloration and pigmentation, adding that steroids give rise to diabetics when used over a long period of time.

Other side effects include ugly stretch marks, bad odour from some of the agents and infections to the skin.

“Some people are allergic to some particular components of those bleaching agents and they can have idiosyncratic reactions. Some people can even have allergic dermatitis form these agents.’’

Falodun notes that some studies have also shown that some of these bleaching agents predispose people to cancers because the protective layer of the skin called melanin is being removed.

The dermatologist says that older women experience more severe side effects as their skin is less likely to heal faster than the skin of younger women.

He says those who discontinue the use of these lightening agents will eventually get their skin restored, while for others, the skin colour may become uneven.

Sunday, an owner of a cosmetic shop in Abuja, claims that many ladies in the Federal Capital Territory want to change their skin colour.

“Even mothers come to my shop to get lightening cream for their children saying the children are celebrating birthdays, adding that a package can cost N15,000.

“Whenever I ask them why they want me to mix cream for them, many say, I’m travelling home for the Xmas and I want to find a husband, so I want my skin to be lighter and glowing.”

Emeka a 30 year old banker, says some women want to become lighter in colour because they believe being fair is beautiful, adding that such is a misconception.

Another bachelor, Fortune, a 32-year-old businessman says: “it is unhealthy and indecent, I see no reason why women should change their natural colour to achieve temporary satisfaction. I am easily turned off y them.’’

Mrs Ogbue a Church Minister, says that people who want to change their skin colour do not appreciate God’s beauty.

“So when you see someone who has bleached for a long time and you see the way their skin looks, then nobody will tell you it is wrong.”

The truth really is: whether you are dark or light skinned is immaterial because your colour does not determine who you are, neither can it set your achievements high. (NAN)