Nigerians
have been told that bleaching and toning their skin could be very
dangerous and capable of leaving them with serious skin disorders.
Nigerians have been advised to shun the practice of bleaching their skin as it could be very harmful
Dr Eshan Henshaw, a Consultant Dermatologist with University of
Calabar Teaching Hospital, said most skin disorders on humans were
largely caused by bleaching and skin toning creams used on the body.
Henshaw, who is the Chairperson of National Association of
Dermatologist in Cross River, said this on Monday in Calabar when she
led members of the association on a courtesy visit to the state
Commissioner for Health, Dr Inyang Asibong.
Henshaw said the visit was to inform the commissioner of plan to
hold the association’s General Meeting and Scientific Conference from
July 11 to July 14 in Calabar.
According to her, there is a changing paradigm in skin disease in
Nigeria due mainly to the large scale use of bleaching and skin toning
creams.
She added that “most skin disorders are self inflicted by the
use of bleaching and toning creams. Most of those creams could tomorrow
be the cause of one’s skin cancer or kidney failure.
“The conference, which has the theme “Expanding the Frontiers
of Dermatologist in Nigeria”, shall bring in experts in skin disease
care from home and abroad.
“These experts shall brainstorm on the skin, particularly the black skin and how best to treat them.
“In view of this, we have come to intimate you (the
commissioner) about the conference and to also solicit government’s
support toward the success of the conference.”
Responding, Asibong said that the conference theme was apt, adding
that Nigeria had been the dumping and trial ground of many skin care
products by some foreign countries.
She added that “the rising cases of cancer and kidney failure
have become a challenge to medical experts and the Cross River
Government is particularly concerned about this.
“We are thankful to the skin disease experts for choosing the
topic and the ancient city of Calabar for the venue of the conference.”
She advised the conference organisers to expand the frontiers of
skin care and to pay attention to mainstreaming the knowledge and
management of skin disease.
Dr Ernest Ochang, the Public Relations Officer of Nigeria Medical
Association, Cross River Branch, said that the conference was timely in
view of the need to educate people on the dangers of bleaching the skin.
Ochang informed the commissioner that the Association of
Radiologists of West Africa (ARAWA) and Medical and Dental Association
of Nigeria would later in the year hold their conferences in Calabar.
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