CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The art of beautification of the body is not a new practice. The science of beautificationand beauty contest have been in existence since olden days where natural endowment like tiroo, powder, bracelets and so on, are been used to beautify the body. Among these area are hair dressing aesthetic, facial look and general body movement (Adebayo, 2002). However, the degree to which attention is been focus on skin beautification specifically is skin bleaching which calls for a special concern, the act of body beautification has progressed form ordinary maintenance of the natural complexion to complete skin bleaching, which is an act of changing the colour of the body skin to become lighter. Olumide (2006) stated that skin bleaching has taken over all other patterns of the body beautification, this is because it causes skin cancer, skin rashes, tender and rough skin.
Skin bleaching can be considered to be a process of permanentor temporary alternating of the outer (upper most layer) of the skin, otherwise known as epidermis. Andrew and Adeleye (2007) viewed it to be a process of permanent and purposeful lightening of the skin, which is most common among adolescents.
The constituents of skin bleaching creams are hydroquinone and ammoniated mercury. By implication of body bleaching involves the application of substances or solution that are capable of removing the upper surface of the skin, thereby making the colour of the body lighter. Andrew (2007) view is that irrespective of the reasons that may be adduced by those that engage in the practice, it is always clear that the dire effects of skin bleaching in some cases overwhelm the benefits. Youths of nowadays are fond of skin bleaching and toning of the skin because the cream is very cheap and accessible with alternative packages. It is also economical for them to purchase without knowing the health consequences.
Some use it to clear enzyme of pimples invariably it becomes addiction and results into skin bleaching.
Adebayo (2008) established the fact that there is high incidence of skin bleaching and hair dyeing among adolescents. However, what agitates the mind most are the dire consequences of skin bleaching and hair dyeing on these young individuals all in the name of socialization.
The World Health Organization (2002) released a report of the danger of mercury in skin lightening soaps and creams, which revealed that Nigerian youth especially are the highest users of such products, this is followed by Togo with 59%, South Africa 35% and Mali 25%.
The health report shows that health implication of skin bleaching form skin irritates to skin cancer, skin rashes, swelling of the skin, seizure, numbness, pain tremors and memory loss.
The potential risk of hair dyeing includes bladder, cancer, breast cancerand skin cancer, ovarian and cervical, malignancies. In essence, if the adolescents are not well enlightened on this they might be exposed to the saying that, ‘such health’ risk listed above (Adegoke, 2005). According to the saying that the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.
Skin bleaching and hair dyeing is not what the youth supposed to dwell on in order to groom a responsible adult. Skin bleaching, whitening or lightening has been define by Christopher (1991) as any process in which pigment is removed from the skin which can be done using soap, pills, cream and even laser and also surgical treatment. The importance of skin bleaching is considered and harnessed in the treatment of certain health skin abnormally high pigmentation abnormal conditional, example specific zones of abnormal condition are high pigmentation such as moles and birth marks may be depigmented to match to the surrounding skin conversely in cases of viligo unattended skin may be lightened to achieve uniform appearance (Blay, 2009). There are different types and classes of chemical bleaching product or reagents for example: tryrosinase, exfoliants, homemade treatment, mercury hydrogeninoneetc. skin bleaching or lightening has a long history in Asia stemming back to china and japan where the saying “One white covers up three ugliness were passed through generation. Hodge (2011). A white complexion in South East Asia, where the sun was always out, only those rich enough could afford to stay indoors, while peasants backedin the rich fields. (Keith and Herring, 2002).
In their early bid to lighten up, Chinese ground pearl from sea shell into powder and swallowed it to whiten their skin, says Chinese ground university chemical pathology, Professor Christopher lam mai-kai while across the yellow sea geisha girls powdered heir face chalk white (Japan).