Senegal campaigns against skin-whitening creams to promote natural beauty

18 February, 2013

Concept of beauty varies from one part of the world to another. While some people apply products to darken their skin, others buy cream to get a lighter complexion. In Senegal, a new campaign has taken off to counter the growing popularity of lightening products, and to promote natural beauty irrespective of the skin colour.

Whitening creams are hugely popular in Senegal and are used by over 67 percent of the female population. To whiten their skin in just fifteen days, these pro drugs are used all over Africa. Prisca, a hairdresser told this to ANI, “It gives you a clear skin-tone; it’s lighter and therefore more beautiful. If you use too much there can be consequences, but if you use in reasonable amount then it is fine.”

Null kukk, which means pitch black in Senegalese, is the name of the new campaign against skin lightning products that's gaining ground. Usually prescribed for severe skin inflammation, such creams limit melanin production and are mostly banned in European nations. According to the Senegalese law, creams cannot contain more than two percent corticosteroids, but still some products with higher levels are available in the market, leaving thousands of women disfigured.

Dr. Fatimata Ly, a dermatologist said, “Firstly, we have Japanese bleaching products because they are drugs; we also have to raise awareness because they don't know the risks that the products can have.”

The Null Kukk campaign has attracted thousands of supporters on Facebook along with high profile personalities. Aisha Deme, manager of an online event website said, “Modern society requires beauty standards that are very different from others.”

The Null Kukk campaign has already gathered over 1,500 signatures in favour of the ban on bleaching products. The organizers hope to promote natural beauty, whether it is black, white or something else.