Skin Whitening: Beauty or Bigotry?

We've all heard of teeth whitening. Now there’s an epidemic that’s been plaguing much of India—skin whitening.

First the feeding tube diet (and yes it’s exactly what it sounds like.) Now this. Not only has the cosmetic industry in India made millions off of selling this product to women, they’re targeting men too.

These creams/gels promise to lighten skin color through daily application. The reality: products that cause your skin to peel and expose it to harsh chemicals.

And India isn’t the only country on the skin whitening train. Lightening products make up almost half of the cosmetic industry and are a hot commodity in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.  

South Africa is trying to remedy this by banning such gels/creams. But that doesn’t stop people from buying them on the black market. How can healthy body image be promoted when this kind of thinking is engrained in a society?

What Can You Do?

• Start an awareness campaign at your school about this issue.
• 11 facts about body image.
• Start a petition to get skin whitening products banned.