Dark secret of the beauty industry – the risks exposed

Medical experts have issued a serious warning to Nigerians indulging in skin bleaching, saying it delays wound healing.

According to them, harsh chemicals in bleaching products increase the risk of infections and other severe skin complications.

They explained that bleaching creams and soaps often contain hydroquinone, mercury, and steroids that damage the skin structure.

A Consultant Dermatologist, Dr Ayesha Akinkugbe, described these chemicals as harmful and linked them to fragile, poorly healing skin.

Dr Akinkugbe, an Associate Professor at the University of Lagos, spoke during an interview on media.

She revealed that bleaching agents impair the skin’s ability to heal from minor injuries like cuts and bruises.

“Skin lightening products, especially those with steroids, thin the skin and make it more fragile,” she stated.

Akinkugbe noted that healing becomes slower because these chemicals reduce the skin’s strength and regenerative capacity.

“Hydroquinone reduces melanin, which plays a vital role in protecting and repairing the skin,” she said.

According to her, the result is slow healing, scars, and dark patches known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

She added that steroids in these creams suppress inflammation, which is crucial for proper wound recovery.

“Inflammation is not always bad—it helps the body respond and repair injuries,” she explained further.

Mercury, often found in illegal bleaching products, was described as toxic and destructive to skin cells.

“Mercury damages the skin’s ability to recover from wounds and increases the risk of severe infections,” she warned.

Akinkugbe added that long-term use of bleaching creams weakens the skin and opens the door to infections.

“When the skin barrier is compromised, even small cuts become entry points for bacteria and fungi,” she noted.

She linked prolonged use of such creams to infections like impetigo, cellulitis, ringworm, and yeast infections.

“Since the skin heals slowly, these infections can linger and sometimes leave permanent scars,” Akinkugbe said.

She warned that steroid-based products lower the skin’s immune response and worsen infection risks.

“Steroid-induced acne, fungal outbreaks, and resistant infections are common among regular users of these products,” she said.

Also speaking, Dr Roli Madubuko described skin bleaching as a widespread public health crisis in Nigeria.

Dr Madubuko, an Associate Professor at the University of Benin, condemned the long-term use of harmful bleaching agents.

She explained that thinning of the skin layers disrupts normal healing after injury.

“The dermis, which helps with healing, becomes damaged by these products, slowing the recovery process,” she explained.

Madubuko added that bleached skin struggles with circulation and regeneration, especially after trauma or injury.

She shared a heartbreaking case of a 28-year-old woman who had bleached since childhood.

The woman was involved in an accident and had a deep wound on her leg.

“When doctors tried stitching her skin, it kept tearing apart due to years of bleaching,” Madubuko said.

The woman developed sepsis and died, unable to survive her injuries because her skin couldn’t heal properly.

“This tragedy shows how dangerous bleaching can be.

“Nigerians must stop this harmful trend,” Madubuko concluded.

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