Chief Executive Officer of Allure Africa Group, Dzigbordi Dosoo, has revealed that some mothers are patronizing creams meant to bleach the skin of their babies.
Her revelation follows a report by the Mirror Newspaper that some expectant mothers in Ghana are taking drugs to make their unborn babies skin look fairer when born.
According to the report, the practice is now in vogue with drugs such as Benzoquinol, Tequinol, Idrochinone, Phiaquin, Eloquin among others being used by these mothers."
The Allure Spa CEO disclosed on Starr FM that those drugs were being sold illegally on the markets, with many patronizing them but other mothers who came to look for similar products at spas and clinics were denied access to those products.
“Such creams and dreams are sold on the open market and we hear of them every day. There are women who go to the market just to purchase such things for their babies. There are some people who come to the spa to look for products for toning. Some want their babies to look fair…we don’t encourage that. At spas and beauty clinics, the officials do not make known to their clients the products they can use for skin lightening,†she said.
The Head of Cosmetics and Household Chemical Department of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Emmanuel Nkrumah also cautioned mothers against purchasing creams and drugs that have not been approved by the FDA.
“The general public should know that this drug is not approved by the FDA and has very serious side effects. The drugs the people take mostly contain glutathione supplements. Many have been taking these drugs and nothing is happening to their skinâ€.