A dangerous and popular syndrome is currently trending among Nigerians: the “I must be white syndrome”, this trend surfaced among the rich, powerful, and upper class Nigerians when the use of assorted cosmetic formulations became prominent ; currently virtually every one is involved in it- the rich, average class, and even those with limited income.
The desire to be white has women, girls and on some occasions men bleaching their skins with harmful and toxic substances. Bleaching or whitening of the skin involves the use of cosmetics with high proportion of hydroquinone acid- a kind of bleaching compound which suppresses the formation and concentration of melanin- a skin pigment found in the skin of every black African that protects the skin against the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays from radiation of the sun. To this group of people, body bleaching has become a fad, a show of wealth and acquired status, a way of keeping up with the trend of the new age and to make themselves appealing to the opposite sex.
I remember a dark friend of mine telling me that she hated hanging out with fair girls as she always felt less beautiful in their midst. Whatever happened to the black is beautiful?
Many reasons have been given to why people result to bleaching their skins- from the desire to appear more beautiful and attract the opposite sex to the desire to look younger than one’s  actual age, inferiority complex, low self esteem, to mention but a few; notwithstanding non of these reasons underscore the harmful effects of bleaching the skin.
Here are few of the effects of this precarious yet rampaging act.
People who bleach have a terrible smell: Apart from hydroquinone, there are other chemicals present in bleaching substances such as inorganic mercury contained in lightening soaps; the combination of these chemicals give the person’s using them a certain unpleasant smell which they try to mask by using various and heavily scented perfumes.
Premature Aging: when one bleaches their skin: it causes the skin to wrinkle very fast. Women and girls who bleach tends to use heavy make-up in order to cover these defects. But it is only a matter of time before nature takes it course. Due to the various cosmetics applied on the skin, it loses its natural vitality as a result, the skin starts to wrinkle prematurely and leaves the person looking older than their actual age.
People who bleach are prone to skin infections: due to the removal of skin pigment in the process of bleaching, persons involved are susceptible to skin infections , unsightly blotches and skin so weakened that it cannot be stitched when cut.
Cancer: Excessive and constant use of skin whitening product gets the skin so thinned out that it gives way for the chemicals from the cream to absorb into the blood stream, this leads to cancer of the blood, (leukemia), liver and kidney damage.
Toning, lightening, brightening- all of these slogans have been drawn up by the users of bleaching cosmetics to euphemizes the reality of skin bleaching; while some look good in their new skin, others simply appear funny and ridiculous in their newly acquired complexion, not minding the results or satisfaction these persons derive, majority of them know the dangers involved yet few seem to pay attention.
One way to save these persons from themselves is education; the general public should be informed about the hazards of these bleaching substances. Public service campaigns can inform these persons on how bleaching affects their personal health.
Seek professional and self help: for people who have already damaged their skin through bleaching, dermatologists and skin doctors are always there to help, but even after these skin doctors have provided ways to restore the skin back to health, self discipline goes a long way. People should build their self esteem to the extent that it cannot be deflated by anyone either fair or black because surprisingly even after bleaching, most people are still not satisfied that they are beautiful enough.