No matter the fancy name you give to it, all bleaching be bleaching.

We have this unfortunate trend in Africa now where people are not content with their natural dark colour, so they use creams and other methods to look like the white people they claim not to like.

Even some of our celebrities are not exempt from this. Anyway, over in Cote d’Ivoire they are doing something about this trend. According to a report on the BBC, their health ministry have banned skin whitening creams due to health concerns.

Medical experts have said some of the ingredients in these creams can cause cancer, diabetes, or severe skin conditions; but what are a few ailments in the quest to look beautiful?

Ivorian officials are worried about some of the ingredients used in the creams, such as mercury or excessive steroids.

It’s a shame it wouldn’t really change anything. When the African is determined to destroy himself, there’s very little that can be done to stop it.

Currently,  South Africa has the world’s toughest laws against skin lighteners, having prohibited the most active ingredient – hydroquinone, but a University of Cape Town study found that more than a third of South African women still buy them.

The use of whitening creams in Africa is most widespread in Nigeria – where more than 75% of women buy them, according to a 2008 UN Environment Programme study.