VIDEO: Why Nigeria has the highest number of women bleaching their skin

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), at least 77 percent of women in Nigeria use skin-lightening products in the quest for beauty, the world’s highest percentage.

While there are many reasons why Nigerian women bleach their skin, most of them say they do so because they want white skin.

This is a common problem in many African countries where lighter-skinned women are considered more beautiful and easily find marriage partners.

Skin bleaching normally comes with hazardous health consequences especially in places like Nigeria where lightening creams are not regulated.

In the following video BattaBox presenter Adeola visits one of the most popular cosmetologists in Lagos ‘Mama Tega’ who mixes crèmes and soaps for women who want to maintain a particular skin shade or colour.

With some of these products, one could go from being black to fair skinned overnight. The “treatment” costs about N35,000 ($170).

The place is so popular that it is visited by at least 30 girls/women every day.

What do you think about skin bleaching?