Articles on skin lightening products

April 28, 2026

Why do so many African women bleach their skin? Study looks beyond what they tell researchers

Oyenike Balogun, Bentley University

Strong social pressures shape how people respond to direct questions about skin colour.

November 25, 2021

Farzana Rahiman, University of the Western Cape and Lester Davids, University of Pretoria

Skin lighteners are being used more than ever before, especially in urban areas and among men.

March 5, 2020

Lynn M. Thomas, University of Washington

The long history of racist beauty standards alone cannot explain the ongoing global use of harmful skin lighteners.

Farzana Rahiman
Lecturer, University of the Western Cape
Lynn M. Thomas
History Professor, University of Washington
Lester Davids
Professor, Director: C2L Scientific Consulting, University of Pretoria
Oyenike Balogun
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Bentley University