Prolonged use of skin lightening products poses health hazards

Such products with composition of hydroquinone, mercury and steroid cause hyper pigmentation, extreme darkening of skins and other severe health hazards, said dermatologist Dr Ataur Rahman.

Gender in Media Forum in association with the ActionAid Bangladseh organised the seminar on 'Skin whitening cream: Advertising and effects' at Cirdap auditorium in the city.

Highlighting the socio-cultural aspect, the speakers said the fairness fixation has been reinforced and perpetuated by the media.

"With the advent of satellite TV, we are flooded with images of a 'fairer' culture, thus creating dissatisfaction with the 'self' and inciting the racial conflict," said Ferdous Azim, a professor of BRAC University.

Dr Geeti Ara Nasreen, professor of mass communication and journalism, Dhaka University, said the advertisements of the cosmetics companies carries such messages that it seems the skin whitening cream is the passport to success.

Advocate Faustina Pereira, director of Advocacy and research, Ain O Salish Kendro, said the advertisements for skin whitening creams are violating the article 10 and 11 of the Constitution that guarantees equal rights for women.

The speakers also said the skin lightening creams having ingredients such as mercury and hydroquinone had already been banned in the US, the UK, European Union, Canada, Thailand, Indonesia and several African countries.

Prof ABM Faruque, department of pharmacy, Dhaka University, human rights activist Hamida Hossain, Ranjan Karmakar, executive director of Steps Towards Development, Khuku Chatterjee of ActionAid Bangladesh, Tasmima Hossain, editor of the fortnightly Anannya, Omar Tareque Chowdhuruy of Gender in Media Forum and Nazneen Shefa also spoke at the seminar moderated by TV personality and columnist Muhammad Jahangir.