On a global level the practice of skin whitening is considered to be an important social and cultural element of building ideals of female beauty. However many unregulated products contain toxic ingredients and are recognized as health concerns due to the risks of skin discolouration or scarring. It is a multi-billion dollar industry and has been criticized for perpetuating ideas about racial inequality and social inequity. We examine the rationale behind skin lightening based on factors such as colonialism, colorism, promotion of a euro-centric image and the role of media in creating a gatewa
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