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BLACK is beautiful. Say no to skin bleaching and embrace dark skin.
That was the message from hundreds of people who marched through the Durban CBD on Friday to raise awareness against the use of skin lightening creams.
The University of KwaZuluNatal (UKZN) and the KwaZuluNatal Health department called on the public to reject skin lightening creams in desperate attempts to become yellow bones
Some placards read: I m black and I m beautiful, Skin bleaching equals poison to your skin, Love your skin the way it is and Real men like natural women, among others.
The march was part of a campaign to raise awareness on the dangers of skin lightening creams.
Dr Moses Ollengo, an academic from UKZN school of chemistry, said he had done a lot of research into skin lightening and found it adversely affected women.
Some ingredients affect unborn children. It s better to prevent than treat.”
Professor Ncoza Dlova a leading dermatologist and researcher, asked all those at the march to each tell a hundred women that skin bleaching is not cool
She called on the health department to ban all dangerous and illegal creams that harmed skin.
Nombulelo Pakkies 49 said friends advised her to use skin lightening creams to remove marks on her face.
It has instead damaged my skin. If I stand in the sun my skin burns and gets itchy.”
Another victim Mbali Mkhize Gazo who used creams for her acne said it worked for a while but when the acne returned it came back with a vengeance.
I sought help from Prof Dlova, a year later I am much better. People should consult proper skin doctors if they have skin problems she said.
In South African celeb circles, musician Nomasonto Mnisi, aka
‚‚‚‚‚Mshoza, went public in 2011 about her bleaching.
In the same year, actress and beauty queen Sorisha Naidoo was quoted as saying her range of skin lightening products were sold out after she appeared looking fairer in complexion than before.
Controversial singer Kelly Khumalo was once accused of touching up her face but denied having bleached.
Khanyi Mbau, who became famous for dating Mandla Mthembu, attributed her sudden fairer skin to a beauty product called Glutathione IV.