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The use of skin bleaching creams is prevalent among 77 percent of Nigerian women, the highest in Africa, when compared to 59 percent in Togo, 35 per cent in South Africa and 27 percent women in Senegal. This is according to a World Health Organisation study.

This alarming findings was disclosed by the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, while delivering her opening address at the North-Central zonal sensitisation workshop on the Dangers of Bleaching Creams and Regulatory Control held in Jos, Plateau State.

She explained that the scary statistic has shown that the menace of bleaching creams in Nigeria has become a national health emergency that requires a multi-faceted regulatory approach.

According to her, “part of the multi-pronged approach are consultative/sensitisation meetings such as this and heightened raids on distribution outlets of bleaching creams.”

The Director-General stressed the need for stringent regulatory actions to stem the dangerous tide of rampant and pervasive cases of Nigerians using bleaching cream.

She further urged the media to assist NAFDAC in publicising and disseminating knowledge acquired to the general public and further commended the media for it’s collaboration and support for NAFDAC to rid the country of the menace of substandard and falsified medicines, unwholesome foods, corrosive cosmetics and other substandard regulated products.

The Professor disclosed that some of the harmful effects of bleaching creams include cancer, damage to vital organs of the body, skin irritation and allergy, skin burn and rashes, wrinkles, premature skin ageing, and prolonging the healing of wounds.