Skin disorders largely caused by bleaching creams, says dermatologist

Bleaching and skin toning creams applied on the body are responsible for most skin disorders, says Eshan Henshaw, a consultant dermatologist at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

Henshaw, who is the chairperson of national association of dermatologist in Cross River, said this when she led members of the association on a courtesy visit to the state commissioner for health, Inyang Asibong, on Monday.

She said there is a changing paradigm in skin disease in Nigeria due mainly to the large scale use of bleaching and skin toning creams.

“Most skin disorders are self inflicted by the use of bleaching and toning creams. Most of those creams could tomorrow be the cause of one’s skin cancer or kidney failure,” said Henshaw.

“The conference, which has the theme “Expanding the Frontiers of Dermatologist in Nigeria”, shall bring in experts in skin disease care from home and abroad.

“These experts shall brainstorm on the skin, particularly the black skin and how best to treat them.

“In view of this, we have come to intimate you (the commissioner) about the conference and to also solicit government’s support toward the success of the conference.”

Responding, Asibong said that the conference theme was apt, adding that Nigeria had been the dumping and trial ground of many skin care products by some foreign countries.

She added that “the rising cases of cancer and kidney failure have become a challenge to medical experts and the Cross River government is particularly concerned about this.

“We are thankful to the skin disease experts for choosing the topic and the ancient city of Calabar for the venue of the conference.”

She advised the conference organisers to expand the frontiers of skin care and to pay attention to mainstreaming the knowledge and management of skin disease.