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Related Concept Videos

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives01:14

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The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
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Ethics is a philosophical study of moral actions. Ethics attempts to determine what is valuable for individuals and society. It examines the rational justification of moral judgments and analyzes what is morally just, fair, and right. Bioethics is a sub-discipline of applied ethics that analyzes the philosophical, social, and legal issues in life sciences and medicine. Ethical theories serve as a foundation for decision-making and represent the viewpoints from which people seek direction. They...
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Quantification of Hypopigmentation Activity In Vitro
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Is skin bleaching a moral wrong? An African bioethical perspective.

Ademola Kazeem Fayemi1,2

  • 1University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa. kcaristotle@yahoo.com.

Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics
|April 19, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Skin bleaching in Africa is ethically wrong, promoting false beauty standards and disharmony. This practice negatively impacts public health due to toxic ingredients and necessitates regulated cosmetic distribution for consumer protection.

Keywords:
African bioethic of communionBeauty idealsColorismSkin-bleaching cosmeticsSouth Sahara

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Area of Science:

  • Bioethics
  • African Studies
  • Cosmetic Science

Background:

  • Colorist beauty standards are prevalent in Africa, driven by the influx of non-surgical cosmetic products.
  • Skin bleaching is a widespread practice within black communities in Africa.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To deconstruct the falsehood in colorist beauty definitions through an African bioethico-aesthetic lens.
  • To ethically evaluate skin bleaching using the African ethic of communion.
  • To examine the public health and societal impacts of skin bleaching cosmetics in Africa.

Main Methods:

  • Deconstructs colorist beauty standards using African bioethico-aesthetic principles.
  • Applies the African ethic of communion to evaluate the morality of skin bleaching.
  • Analyzes scientific studies on the health effects of skin-bleaching ingredients.

Main Results:

  • Skin bleaching is morally wrong as it fosters disharmonious relations and false identity within Africa's beauty industry.
  • Toxic ingredients in bleaching products pose significant public health risks.
  • The expansion of bleaching cosmetics exploits consumers in African markets.

Conclusions:

  • Urgent need for a relational ethic of polycentric governance to regulate cosmetic production and distribution.
  • Regulation should prevent consumer exploitation and protect the right to informed choices through education.
  • Promoting harmonious relations and authentic identity is crucial in the African beauty industry.