Skin Bleaching in BIPOC Communities

  Skin bleaching is the process of lightening one's skin tone through the use of various products and treatments, many of which contain ingredients that can lead to skin disorders and other health complications. Skin bleaching is a prominent issue in BIPOC communities. Colorism and colonialism are distinctive factors that have contributed to the popularized practice of skin bleaching among African, Asian, Caribbean, and Latin American communities: a practice that has allowed skin bleaching to develop into a multi-billion dollar industry, endangering its consumers that are unaware of the potential adverse health effects of skin lightening products.
 
Where is the industry today?
​
  In a 2017 research report, Global Industry Analyst predicted that global demand for skin-whiteners will grow from a demand of 17.9 billion in 2017 to a projected 31 billion in 2024, with the largest consumer bases being located in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
 
China holds the largest percentage of sales in Asia, 40%, which reflects the influence of this beauty ideal. The Chinese idiom ‘yī bái zhē bǎi chǒu’ (‘white skin removes all ugliness’) shows how deeply rooted colorism exists in Chinese culture. 
 
 
That same prejudice of colorism, amplified by the influence of ‘white supremacy’, has impacted other BIPOC communities.
 
With colorism being ingrained into societal structure, the demand for skin lightening products cannot be resolved without actively trying to take down this unrealistic standard supported by underlying racism. 
​
  A contributing factor to the rising popularity of skin bleaching and lightening products are the celebrities that use these products. Celebrities, as notable public figures, can promote products simply by being seen using them: influencing their fans and others to purchase that product. Some celebrities had been accused of skin-bleaching to even out their vitiligo, such as Tamar Braxton and Michael Jackson.
 
Although  they had refuted the accusations several times, many among the public did not believe them and simply viewed it as an action promoting colorism.
 
However, many other celebrities bleached their skin to ‘be more attractive’, such as retired professional basketball player Sammy Sosa and Vybz Kartel, a Jamaican dancehall artist who references his skin bleaching in a positive light in his song lyrics. In one of his most popular songs, 'Cake Soap', Vybz Kartel opened with the phrase, "Cool like mi wash mi face with the cake soap", in reference to cake soap, a product used while washing white clothes, but is commonly used to give the appearance of a lighter complexion. In another of his songs, 'Look Pon We', he says, " The gyal dem love off mi bleach out face!" (The girls love my bleached face!).
 
             
 
Origins of Skin Bleaching
​
  Skin bleaching is practiced for the purpose of achieving a lighter skin tone, but why is that desired in the first place? The influence of colorism, colonialism, and eurocentric beauty standards have impacted many BIPOC communities, leading to low self-esteem and mental health issues among many individuals. 
​
The practice of skin lightening dates back to the 16th century, where Europeans would cosmetically lighten their faces using various products, many which were primarily composed of white lead and arsenic wafers.
 
With the expansion of colonization and slavery, European’s characteristic white skin began to be regarded as supposedly ‘superior’, leading to lighter skin to be associated with ‘higher status’.
 
Consequently, this false notion became embedded into many African, Asian, Caribbean, and Latin American societies. The idea that lighter skin meant more opportunities and favourability than having darker skin has ultimately led many BIPOC to bleach their skin in order to conform with ‘white ideals’.
​
These manifestations of self-hatred and decreased confidence due to negative stigma surrounding darker skin tones has been brought to light by several figures in BIPOC communities. In a 2020 interview with Byrdie, Senegalese model, Khoudia Diop, spoke out about how she spent years hating her own skin simply because it was “so dark”.
 
However, Diop ultimately conquered that hate as she embarked in her career as a model, proudly celebrating her dark skin and culture. Another notable figure is Fatima Lodhi, the creator of the anti-colorism campaign, Dark is Divine. Lodhi’s experience of being bullied for having darker skin at her high school in Islamabad, Pakistan, inspired her to take action against this toxic beauty standard in her campaign. Both of these women, despite being from entirely different backgrounds, have experienced the same prejudice of colorism and have used these experiences to empower themselves and others to love and be comfortable in their own skin.
 
The Impact On Health
​
  Over-the-counter skin lightening products are accessible and legal in most countries, however lack of knowledge of harmful ingredients and inadequate warning labels pose a danger to consumers. Skin bleaching has been linked to increased risk of contracting various skin disorders and illnesses. 



 
 In addition to that, skin bleaching products containing corticosteroids, with long term use, may cause steroid acne that can appear on the arms, back, and other parts of the body, and some products made outside of the U.S may contain mercury, which can cause numbness, high blood pressure, fatigue, neurological symptoms, sensitivity to light, and kidney failure, all serious signs and symptoms of mercury poisoning. It can also cause hyperpigmentation in darker skinned users. It is best to speak to your dermatologist about using skin bleaching products, especially those planning to use them for certain skin conditions.
 
  
  Skin bleaching is not a simple matter. The practice stems from serious problems that BIPOC communities have faced for the past centuries. Before considering skin bleaching take into consideration the health risks and why you are doing it, and if it is just to conform to the ‘white ideals’ previously mentioned.