ArticleAfrican health sciences2015
"The fairer the better?" Use of potentially toxic skin bleaching products.
Article in African health sciences, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Why are people cosmetic skin whitening? A systematic review.BMC public health · 2026Pooled it
- A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis of Associations Between Education and Use of and Knowledge About Skin Bleaching and Skin Lightening Products.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2026Review
- Changing Skin: The Prevalence, Impact, and Risks of Skin Bleaching Among African Women.Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities · 2025Review
- Determinants of awareness of risks associated with skin lightening products among female dermatology patients in Mogadishu: a cross-sectional study.BMC women's health · 2025Article
- Article
- Impact of nicotine-free and nicotine-rich flavored electronic cigarette refill liquids on primary human melanocyte function.Toxicology reports · 2025Article
- Awareness, Perception, and Utilization of Skin Lightening Agents Among Females of Asmara, Eritrea: A Cross-Sectional Study.Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology · 2023Article
- A survey evaluating knowledge, perception, and use of skin lightening products among South African students.International journal of women's dermatology · 2021Article
- A preliminary study of skin bleaching and factors associated with skin bleaching among women living in Zimbabwe.African health sciences · 2021Article
- The dark side of skin lightening: An international collaboration and review of a public health issue affecting dermatology.International journal of women's dermatology · 2021Review
- Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional survey.JAAD international · 2020Article
- Glucocorticoids in pregnancy.Obstetric medicine · 2020Review
- ["Getting clear skin ……and why not?": voluntary depigmentation among women in a southwest region of Benin].The Pan African medical journal · 2019Article
- Patterns of Over-the-counter Lightening Agent Use among Patients with Hyperpigmentation Disorders: A United States-based Cohort Study.The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2018Article
- From sexual orientation to cochlear transplants in a tropical environment.African health sciences · 2015Article
- University students' sexual orientation, contraception and toxic skin bleaching products.African health sciences · 2015Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSkin bleaching is a widespread phenomenon in spite of their potentially toxic health effects.
objectivesThis study aimed to determine if such products are used in Sweden in particular by pregnant women, furthermore to explore immigrant women's view skin bleaching.
methods455 pregnant women completed a questionnaire, which were statistically analysed. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with immigrant women, content analysis was used to assess the data.
resultsSkin bleaching products were used by 2.6% of pregnant women, significantlly more by women born in non-European countries. Motivating factors were associated with the concept of beauty together with social and economic advantages. The women had low awareness of the potential health risks of the products. Regulations on the trade of skin bleaching products have not effectively reduced the availability of the products in Sweden nor the popularity of skin bleaching.
conclusionThere is need for further research especially among pregnant women and possible effects on newborns. Products should be tested for toxicity. Public health information should be developed and health care providers educated and aware of this practice, due to their potential negative health implications.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.