THE NATION:
The demand for fairer skin or skin-whitening driven primarily by women — and to a lesser extent, men has assumed another dimension. Among the various methods explored for skin whitening is the use of glutathione infusion, a method health practitioners warn could have dangerous implications. ALAO ABIODUN, in this piece, sheds light on the associated health risks, unsafe dermatological Inside unregulated world of non-medical personnel who run skin-whitening drips, spas practices, impacts, and how spas are exploiting client’s desperation for profit.
The quest to look radiant and beautiful prompted 27-year-old Precious to visit a luxurious spa situated in the Lekki area of Lagos State.
For Precious, she was motivated by the perceived social advantages and elevated status associated with a fairer skin. Her routine included intravenous glutathione infusions, a popular but controversial skin and anti-ageing treatment.
Her self-esteem took a nosedive whenever she compared herself to other light-skinned women. Her insecurity was so overwhelming that, despite her fears of non-medical personnel injecting people, she decided to go for the intravenous glutathione infusions.
Like Precious, many other women now want more. More bosoms, more buttocks, more Coca-cola-shaped bodies, beautiful and popping skin. But this has come at a cost for some people.
The increasing quest for beauty through skin-lightening products has left most of its users with more dangerous health concerns such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, tumours, etc. The process of skin lightening is a thriving procedure that comes in the form of soaps, creams, lasers, pills, and injectables.
The trend of skin-lightening has eaten into the very crust of Nigeria’s high-class society. A number of spas and wellness centers in Nigeria pride themselves as the go-to place for skin-lightening.
Why the craze?
So why are some women willing to go to the extreme to alter their natural complexions? The reasons might be as complicated as the risks. Different skin-lightening beauty methods focus on faster and relatively thorough results, while covering up or downplaying the dangers, which leave the body open to grave health repercussions.