In Ghana, it's increasingly common for both women and some men to resort to skin lightening and body enhancement methods.

Many individuals opt for skincare creams and pills to achieve their desired lighter complexion and improve their physical appearance.

However, recent findings suggest that the use of skin bleaching products and medications may contribute to hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Luv News delves into this concerning trend, which also extends to expectant mothers who are resorting to medication abuse in hopes of delivering babies with lighter skin tones.

“I looked ugly whenever I watched myself in a mirror. I felt I had a disfigured body and skin so I decided to tone my skin. I wasn’t happy,” Aba Martin, popular Ghanaian Tiktoker, revealed on the Delay TV show as she confirmed her high school teacher made her feel less about herself.

Aba Dope, widely known by her moniker, underwent a transformation from her original dark skin to her current fair complexion due to dissatisfaction with her appearance.

Her journey mirrors that of countless Ghanaian women, both young and old, who have opted to alter their skin tone for various reasons.

Skin bleaching, also referred to as skin lightening or toning, is a prevalent cosmetic practice worldwide, aimed at achieving a lighter complexion.

This trend is often driven by cosmetic aspirations deeply rooted in historical, economic, socio-cultural, and psychosocial factors.

It typically involves the use of topical products containing substances like corticosteroids, hydroquinone, or mercury to lighten the skin.

Dr. Elliot Koranteng Tannor, an expert in kidney disease at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, warns that the absorption of these chemical substances into the skin and subsequently into the body can lead to high blood pressure.

“When you absorb some of these steroids into your body for a long period of time which makes them fair, that would lead to hypertension. Steroids directly is the cause of hypertension. These steroids can also lead to diabetes. Diabetes, especially affecting the kidneys, when not controlled can lead to hypertension,” he said.

Corticosteroids, Hydroquinone, and Hypertension

Corticosteroids, a type of medication, possess the ability to alleviate inflammation, regulate the immune system's responses, and address hormonal irregularities. They find utility in treating various ailments such as allergies and eczema, a dermatological condition.

However, corticosteroids have the potential to induce hypertension through a mechanism involving the overstimulation of the mineralocorticoid receptor.

This process triggers sodium retention within the kidneys, leading to volume expansion and consequent elevation in blood pressure levels.

Dr. Koranteng Tannor

Hydroquinone, a skin-lightening compound, serves as a beneficial treatment for various forms of hyperpigmentation.

However, excessive usage of this chemical has been linked to adverse health outcomes, including diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease.

According to a 2023 report from the Integrated African Health Observatory, skin bleaching has emerged as a significant global public health issue, with approximately 80% of African women regularly employing skin-whitening products.

In Ghana, the prevalence rate of this phenomenon stands at 39%, reflecting a concerning trend where many women opt for cosmetic creams in pursuit of a complexion deemed desirable by Ghanaian men.

“There may be some skin bleaching products that do not contain these steroids, like the natural products. But how many of these women are not aware of the component of the bleaching creams they use.

Disturbingly, some expectant mothers have caught on the vogue as they take in medications like Prednisolone in an attempt to bleach their unborn babies.

“Interestingly, some women who take these products are now doing that because they believe their children will turn out to be fair,” he revealed.

The Food and Drugs Authority in Ghana intensified a nationwide Post Market Surveillance (PMS) and enforcement on the ban of hydroquinone in cosmetic products but the sale of the product seems to be on the rise on the market.

“The FDA must have a look at the content of these products because the steroids are too high,” Dr. Koranteng Tannor said.

However, skin bleaching is only one of the many causes and risk factors of high blood pressure.

Hypertension, as a major cause of death amongst Africans, comes about as a result of various lifestyle habits.

While family history, and ageing are termed “uncontrolled” risk factors of the disease, poor dieting, intake of excess salt, and sedentary lifestyle are common causes of the disease.

“Having hypertension is not a death sentence. You can actually live long if you control your salt intake, control your dieting, take your medications and exercise regularly,” Dr. Koranteng Tannor advised.