By: Rebecca Ampah
A discussion on skin bleaching on the GTV Breakfast Show has reignited concerns about the growing practice of skin lightening among children, with a clear warning that parents being fair does not automatically mean their children will be fair.
Founder of Skin Foundation Africa and West Africa Representative of the International Society of Dermatology (ISD), Dr. Kofi Ansah Brifo, explained that genetics does not guarantee children will inherit their parents’ skin tone. “The fact that you are fair and your husband is fair, it doesn’t necessarily mean your children,” he stated, stressing that genes do not always work in predictable ways.
Dr. Brifo disclosed that skin bleaching is no longer limited to adults. According to him, there is a growing trend where people lighten their skin for tattoos and body enhancement to be more visible, but the more alarming issue is the extension of bleaching practices to children.
“The scary one is the fact that now we are bleaching our kids as well,” he said, describing it as something that must be openly discussed.
He noted that some parents actively apply creams on their children, while in other cases, children are exposed “by default” because of products adults use and the expectation that their children should look the same.
Dr. Brifo explained that children are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of bleaching products because of their skin structure.
“Kids have large surface area, so they tend to absorb a lot more than adults,” he said, adding that their skin is not as well developed and is thinner at the epidermal level.
As a result, the effects of these products are “more or worse in kids than in adults.”
He revealed that dermatology clinics are now seeing children with stretch marks, not linked to weight gain, after further probing shows exposure to creams mixed at home.
According to Dr. Brifo, many parents justify the use of such products because of conditions like atopic eczema, a recurrent inflammatory skin condition in children.
“Some of them mix it with their creams,” he said, explaining that this is sometimes due to ignorance, while in other cases, parents are aware but continue because of the compliments their children receive.
He added that reliance on pharmacies instead of returning to clinics also worsens the problem, leading to prolonged and incorrect use of topical steroids.
Dr. Brifo identified hydroquinone, mercury, arsenic, and potent steroids as some of the commonly used bleaching agents in Ghana and similar settings. “What it does is it keeps on suppressing melanogenesis,” he explained, noting that while the skin lightens, users are often unaware of the side effects and complications.
He cautioned that many products marketed as “organic” are misleading, as some are mixed with potent steroids behind the scenes. “The moment an organic products is effectively lightening your skin, then it’s a bit questionable,” he said.
Dr. Brifo described skin bleaching as being “fueled by colorism and misinformation,” pointing to societal preferences for lighter skin and how beauty is marketed.
He stressed the need to change everyday narratives, including questions people ask when buying skincare products.
“We want to change the narrative of when you go to the market, they ask you… is the child fair or dark?” he said.
While acknowledging that the Food and Drugs Authority is “doing well,” Dr. Brifo said more needs to be done through collaboration involving health practitioners, social welfare, religious leaders, and educators.
He commended GTV for creating space for such conversations and noted efforts to develop youth-focused programmes that address the deep psychological roots of colorism.
Dr. Brifo stated that while there is hope in reversing some effects of skin bleaching if the harmful products are stopped, not all complications are reversible. He noted that many people abandon treatment because of comments from others when their skin tone changes.
“About 70 percent of complaints… is not coming from the patient themselves. They tell you what people say about them,” he said.
He urged parents and caregivers to seek medical advice early for conditions such as acne and eczema rather than resorting to market products.
“We are here to empower people, not to condemn,” he emphasized.
