Bleaching Cream Causes Skin Cancer, Dermatologist Says

[Miss Ifeoluwa]

A Dermatologist, Prof. Olayinka Olasode, has warned people against skin bleaching, saying a bleached skin is prone to skin cancer, hypertension, diabetics among other diseases.

Olasode, who teaches at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

She said that skin lightening creams used in the bleaching process contained steroid and hydroquinone which had adverse effect on the skin.

Olasode also said that those who engaged in bleaching risked their nails turn brown, body odour, profuse sweat, hot feelings and lacking comfort during the dry season.

The professor stated that the original skin of every human being was for body protection, adding that such skin would lose its immunity to protect the body once bleached.

”We are naturally protected by the original skin. A bleached skin is prone to cancer and other diseases because the chemical used has removed the immunity from the skin,” she explained.