These days, 75% of Nigerian women and between 52% and 67% of Senegalese women use skin lightening products. The World Health Organisation has banned the active ingredients of skin lighteners - a chemical agent called hydroquinone and mercury - from being used in any unregulated skin products.

Unregulated products have significantly higher quantities of hydroquinone and mercury than those recommended by dermatologists Using them could lead to liver and kidney failure or hyperpigmentation, which is dark skin patches forming on the area where the product is used.