Women from Nigeria have been ranked as the highest consumers of skin-whitening creams on the African continent.
Skin-whitening creams are cosmetic products that reduce the concentration of melanin in the skin to make it appear lighter.
Melanin is a pigment produced by cells called melanocytes, and the amount of melanin in a person’s skin is mostly determined by genetics. People with dark skin have more melanin, but its production and level of concentration in the body are affected by hormones, sunlight, and other chemicals.
The data, drawn by CNN, explained that 75 per cent of women in Nigeria patronise skin-whitening products.
Nigeria is closely followed by Senegal at 60 per cent, Mali at 50 per cent and Ghana at 30 per cent.
The skin-whitening industry predominantly caters to women worldwide in every part of the world, especially in Africa, Asia, and North America.
Skin-whitening creams contain ingredients that work to decrease the body’s production of melanin, but many of these products have been found to have dangerous side effects such as high blood pressure, fatigue, sensitivity to light, kidney failure, and neurologic symptoms, such as tremor and memory loss.
