Shades of harmful beauty
I sat beside a young girl, no more than 14, in a commercial bus recently.
At first, nothing seemed unusual until I noticed her hands.
Her knuckles were strikingly dark ― almost as dark as charcoal against the rest of her skin.
A second glance revealed more. She had uneven patches across her face and neck, and lips that appeared darker than natural.
The contrast was hard to ignore.
The names of many bleaching creams are deliberately suggestive, making their purpose obvious even to someone with little or no prior knowledge.
This is why I was not surprised when she mentioned the name of the cream she applies to her body.
At that moment, I felt so sorry for her because what stood before me was not just a teenager experimenting with beauty, but a child caught in a growing and dangerous trend.
Across Ghana, scenes like this are becoming increasingly common.
Skin bleaching or toning as they call it, has quietly embedded itself in youth culture, appealing to both boys and girls at very young ages.
ometime ago, this was a practice associated with adults.
Now, teenagers have found reason to also chase a lighter complexion.
Growing
A growing proportion of young people are using skin-lightening products.
Markets are filled with so many creams and soaps promising a glow, radiance or jaw-dropping beauty.
Sadly, many of these are sold without proper labeling or regulation.
Social media further fuels the desire, where lighter skin is often portrayed as more attractive, successful and socially desirable.
For generations, lighter skin has been subtly, and sometimes overtly, associated with beauty, privilege, and opportunity.
Teenagers, still forming their sense of identity, are particularly vulnerable to these messages.
The pressure to conform to look a certain way, to fit in and to be admired can be overwhelming.
For some, bleaching becomes less about choice and more about belonging.
Perhaps this is why this young girl was proud to announce the source of her secret beauty.
My heart ached, knowing the consequences go far beyond cosmetics.
The harmful chemicals in these products, such as hydroquinone, corticosteroids and mercury, can severely damage the skin, causing thinning, stretch marks, persistent acne and irreversible discolouration.
The telltale signs, such as dark knuckles, uneven skin tone, and patchy complexions, are often just the beginning.
Over time, users may experience more serious health issues, including kidney damage, hormonal imbalances, and increased risk of skin cancer.
It is no wonder that healthcare providers are increasingly encountering young patients with chronic diseases.
Similar
Similar trends of bleaching have been documented in other countries, such as Nigeria, Senegal, India, Jamaica and others, where fairer skin has traditionally been linked to desirability, especially in marriage and media representation.
Advertising industries have reinforced this by associating fairness with confidence and success.
Addressing skin bleaching requires more than simply banning products.
It demands coordinated action, and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has a central role to play.
The FDA must strengthen regulation and enforcement.
The banned or controlled substances in these products cannot be tolerated in our markets.
While regulations exist, enforcement can be inconsistent.
The FDA should intensify routine market surveillance, seize unapproved products, and prosecute offenders to serve as a deterrent. Informal markets and online platforms, where many of these products are sold, must also be clamped down on.
Schools have a vital role to play by incorporating discussions on self-esteem, body image, and health into their curricula.
Students should be helped to build their identity and confidence wisely.
At home, parents and guardians must be mindful of the messages they pass on, both spoken and unspoken.
Celebrating natural skin tones and avoiding comparisons can help shape a child’s self-worth.
Young people must be empowered to redefine what beauty means.
Since peer influence often drives trends, it can also be used positively to promote change.
By embracing authenticity and rejecting harmful standards, they can reshape beauty ideals for future generations.
The writer is a Child development expert/Fellow of the Zero-To-Three Academy, USA.
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