By Abigail Philip David
Can the use of bleaching creams lead to blindness?
Skin lightening and whitening are often used interchangeably to describe treatments that lighten the complexion. However, the ingredients in many of these creams—such as corticosteroids, hydroquinone, and mercury—raise significant safety concerns and pose serious risks to the body.
Skin bleaching is particularly popular in Nigeria and other parts of Africa due to cultural preferences for lighter skin tones, often influenced by Western beauty standards. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 77% of Nigerian women admit to using skin-lightening products, compared to 28% of men.
When it comes to blindness, the primary culprit is mercury, which is commonly found in these products under various names, including “Hg,” “mercuric iodide,” “mercurous chloride,” “ammoniated mercury,” “quicksilver,” “cinnabaris (mercury sulphide),” and “hydrargyri oxydum rubrum.”
Does Skin Bleaching Cause Blindness?
Mercury is used in skin-bleaching creams to inhibit melanin production, which is responsible for skin pigmentation. However, when applied to the skin, mercury can lead to a range of health issues, including peripheral neuropathy, kidney damage, skin rashes, discolouration, scarring, reduced resistance to infections, and mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis, according to WHO research.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also warned about mercury exposure, citing potential hazards such as vision loss and lung damage. A 2014 study published in the *Medical Science Monitor* further confirmed that prolonged mercury exposure can impair vision, particularly peripheral vision.
In conclusion, prolonged use of skin-lightening creams containing mercury is particularly dangerous, as mercury accumulates in the body over time, making it increasingly difficult to eliminate. This long-term exposure can lead to serious health problems, including blindness.
