The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) of Ghana has decided to ban the import and sale of cosmetic products containing the skin bleaching ingredient hydroquinone from August 2016. Cote d’Ivoire first led the charge in tackling skin bleaching in Africa by banning the practice in their country.
The Ghana Food and Drug Authority said the decision was part of a policy by the state standards agency trying to deter users of the cancer-causing chemical in the Ghana market.
FDA spokesman James Lartey, who confirmed the ban on skin bleach imports to the media, says that as of August this year, any products containing hydroquinone will no longer be allowed into the country.
The question of colorism, which relates to the preference for lighter skin over dark skin, has meanwhile become established in Africa as well. Over 70% of women use skin lightening products in parts of Africa, and the World Health Organization has banned skin lightening active ingredients – hydroquinone and mercury – from use in unregulated skin products.
To this end, the use of hydroquinone products has been banned in the US, Japan, Australia and the European Union, putting Ghana in very good company. Many people continue to praise the news of Ghana’s decision on social media, but others question the logic of the government’s decision to intervene in what they believe to be a private matter.
If you are still persistent in using bleaching cream, you may need to do a little research, see what you are doing, or do to yourself before proceeding.
Ingredients in skin bleaching products
Almost all bleaching products contain one of these three active ingredients – namely mercury, hydroquinone or various corticosteroids. Hydroquinone is a toxic compound that is readily available in 2% concentrations for cosmetic use and up to 4% or more with a doctor’s prescription.
Hydroquinone is found in most hair dyes. It is used in black and white film and in the processing and manufacture of rubber. Hydroquinone is actually not that bad as it is very effective in treating hyperpigmentation issues. However, studies have also shown that it has some carcinogenic effects when applied to the skin.
Mercury is another toxic chemical that is easily absorbed by the human body. It is commonly used in various skin lightening products such as mercury, quicksilver, quicksilver, calomel, or mercuric chloride.
The vast majority of skin lightening products also contain significant amounts of corticosteroids.
dangers of these ingredients
- Hydroquinone reduces the production of melanin in your skin and with prolonged use can cause exogenous ochronosis (b light black dark spots on certain areas of the skin). it can also damage the pigment cells
- It makes the skin more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays. This makes skin lightening product users more vulnerable to serious sunburns and skin cancer.
- Also known as being mutagenic, hydroquinone is believed to significantly increase the risk of diseases such as adrenal dysfunction and liver disease, and has also been linked to various thyroid disorders.
- Research has also shown that hydroquinone has clear carcinogenic properties and is known to cause leukemia in mice and other animals.
- Mercury-based skin lightening products can cause severe skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation, as well as severe scarring
- Prolonged use of mercury-based products can also affect system health as they are closely related to psychosis, depression and kidney dysfunction.
- High-dose corticosteroids slow skin cell regeneration, which leads to thinning of the top layer of skin, or epidermis. This makes people who use skin bleaching products more prone to sun damage and various pigmentation issues. It can also lead to better visibility of the body’s green/blue veins.