Why are some parents in Nigeria using harmful skin lightening products on their children?
鈥淪ome mothers are transferring their own personal self-esteem onto the children, they think fair babies are more beautiful than dark babies鈥�
When Africa Daily鈥檚 Alan Kasujja was in Lagos last year, he learned that some parents there are using harmful products on their children in order to lighten their skin and that in some instances parents are unintentionally lightening and damaging their children鈥檚 skin.
The usage of skin lightening products is high in Nigeria.
According to the World Health Organisation, the prevalence of skin bleaching varies across the continent in Mali it's 25% while in Nigeria it's 77%, so the market for these products is large and widespread.
In today鈥檚 episode, Alan looks at what鈥檚 behind this trend and hears from the owner of a natural skin products business on the conversations she鈥檚 had with mothers looking for skin lightening products for their young children. And he speaks to a dermatologist on the young and damaged skin she鈥檚 seen in her clinic.
With special thanks to producer Chigozie Ohaka.
Podcast
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Africa Daily
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