Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has described the pervasive use of skin-bleaching products in Nigeria as a public health crisis, calling for stronger regulations and cultural reorientation to combat the practice.
Speaking at a high-level workshop in Libreville, Gabon, on January 22, 2025, Dr. Salako identified Nigeria as “the world capital of skin bleaching,” citing a World Health Organization (WHO) report that 77% of Nigerian women use skin-lightening products.
“Despite the well-documented harmful effects of these products, skin bleaching remains prevalent in Nigeria and across Africa, driven by societal pressures linking lighter skin to beauty, success, and social mobility,” Dr. Salako said.
Health Hazards of Skin Bleaching Products
Dr. Salako emphasized the severe health risks associated with these products, including skin damage, organ toxicity, and cancer. Hazardous substances such as mercury, hydroquinone, and heavy metals—commonly found in unregulated skin-lightening products—pose significant dangers.
“Mercury exposure can lead to renal and neurological damage, while hydroquinone has been linked to ochronosis, a bluish-black discoloration of the skin, and potential carcinogenic effects,” Dr. Salako warned.
Government Action and Regulatory Framework
Dr. Salako highlighted Nigeria’s proactive measures, including the 2019 Cosmetics Products (Prohibition of Bleaching Agents) Regulations, which ban harmful ingredients and limit hydroquinone concentration to 2%.
He commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for ensuring cosmetic products meet safety standards through stringent testing and certification. “Through the Cosmetics Safety Management Programme, we’ve conducted public sensitization campaigns, market surveillance, and grassroots education to raise awareness and remove hazardous products from circulation,” he said.
Cultural and Behavioral Change
The Minister called for a cultural shift to dismantle harmful beauty standards. “We must revive the ‘Black is Beautiful’ movement to celebrate Afrocentric beauty and dispel the myth that fairer skin is better,” he stated.
Dr. Salako added that influencers, community leaders, and celebrities are being engaged to promote natural beauty and self-acceptance, with campaigns emphasizing that beauty is not tied to complexion.
Global and Regional Collaboration
Dr. Salako urged African nations to adopt national policies on cosmetics and enforce global conventions such as
