Skin lightening practices: an epidemiological study of South African women of African and Indian ancestries
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cutaneous adverse sequelae of skin lightening creams present with myriad skin complications and affect dermatology practice, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where such products are widely used, with a prevalence of 25-67%. OBJECTIVES: To examine the skin lightening practices of both African and Indian women living in South Africa. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in the general outpatient departments of two regional university hospitals in Durban, South Africa. All consenting African and Indian women aged 18-70 years were recruited and asked to complete a questionnaire. RESULTS: Six hundred women completed the questionnaire, of whom 32·7% reported using skin lightening products. The main reasons cited were treatment of skin problems (66·7%) and skin lightening (33·3%). Products were purchased from a variety of sources. Twenty-five percent reported using sunscreen. CONCLUSIONS: The use of skin lightening cosmetics is common among darkly pigmented South African women, including those of both African and Indian ancestries. Despite more than 20 years of governmental regulations aimed at prohibiting both the sale of cosmetics containing mercury, hydroquinone and corticosteroids, and the advertising of any kind of skin lightener, they are far from having disappeared. The main motivations for using these products are the desire to treat skin disorders and to achieve a lighter skin colour. Television and magazine advertisements seem to influence women's choice of these products and, thus, would be efficient channels for raising public awareness about the dangers of using uncontrolled skin lighteners.
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Skin lightening practices have been commonly used by individuals of darker skin tones from the African and East Indian populations.
“Skin lightening practices such as the use of skin lightening or bleaching creams have been commonly used by individuals of darker skin tones from the African and East Indian populations.3”
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- Authors
- Dlova, N. C., Hamed, S. H., Tsoka-Gwegweni, J., & Grobler, A.
- Affiliations
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
- Hashemite University (JO)
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Dlova, N.C.
- Venue
- British Journal of Dermatology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2015-07
- Volume
- 173
- Pages
- 2-9
- ISSN
- 0007-0963 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1859022869
- Cited by
- 112
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 4.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Dermatology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Discovery Foundation Academic Fellowship Award
- Dermatological Society of South Africa Research Grant
- University of KwaZulu-Natal UKZN College of Health Sciences Strategic Research Fund
- UKZN Competitive Research Fund, and National Research Foundation (NRF)/Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)
- Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal Leadership and Equity Advancement Programme (LEAP)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatologic Treatments and Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Contact Dermatitis and Allergies
- Keywords
- skin whitening products, skin bleaching creams, cosmetic use, African women, Indian women, South African women, dark skin, skin pigmentation disorders, sunscreen use, mercury, hydroquinone, corticosteroids, cosmetic regulation, public awareness, cutaneous adverse events
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Beauty Culture, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, India, Middle Aged, Skin Pigmentation, Socioeconomic Factors, South Africa, Sunscreening Agents, Black People, Young Adult, Skin Lightening Preparations
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