In this report, VICTOR AYENI examines how the pursuit of lighter skin drives some Nigerians to swallow handfuls of supplements, use whitening creams and undergo vitamin infusions, amid concerns of health risks
On September 29, as many people scrolled through X (formerly Twitter) to catch up on missed updates, a surprising video popped up.
In the 20-second clip that went viral the next day, a woman in a deep blue native outfit and gold chain sat in what appeared to be a beauty parlour, with a large banner bearing her photo in the foreground.
The woman, later identified by Saturday PUNCH as Divine Adedayo, the founder of a spa in Orile Agege, Lagos, was seen holding a bottle of water in one hand and a handful of pills and capsules in the other.
In two separate sequences, she tipped the multicoloured tablets and capsules – about 22 in all – into her mouth and swallowed them, washing them down with water.
While the unusual act immediately raised concerns among viewers, Adedayo’s caption to the original clip, which she posted on Instagram, read, “You see my life daily. Luxurious skin. See me for a free consultation.”
In another video on her Instagram page, where she wore the same attire as in the first clip, the spa founder showcased different products, one of which was named ‘half caste,’ ‘whitening oil’, and ‘customised cream,’ apparently all intended for skin whitening.
When the first footage began circulating and sparked massive backlash on social media, she made another video with a caption saying, “cry more” with bucket emojis.
Stirring what looked like an unknown pink mixture in a glass cup with a fork, she said in a sarcastic tone, “In case you want to cry more, here’s another one.”
With that, she drank the contents of the cup in a single gulp. Last week Sunday, Adedayo posted another video which was picked by several blogs.
In it, she held the capsules in her hand saying, “So, for you ignorant that are saying all sorts of rubbish, can you see? These are not drugs; these are supplements. I saw someone in a video on Facebook analysing rubbish.
“If you have money, see, they are supplements. Even this one too (the mixture in a glass cup) is a supplement, though I have to dilute it to use it because I’ve not eaten. It’s your mother that will have cancer.”
Reacting to the video, an Instagram user, Aramide Ajhike, wrote in the comments, “You all need to visit her store and buy one or two just to see her spotless skin in person. The camera doesn’t do her justice—even your favourite person who claims to be unmatchable can’t compete with her skin.”
Saturday PUNCH gathered that intending patrons usually place orders for these products through the page, and the skincare products are delivered to them at their respective homes or offices.
Concerns mount over skin whitening
On X, when the video was shared by Trending Explained, while the responses were largely negative, users expressed concerns over impending health problems and a flawed self-identity crisis.
“Skin whitening pills bought like this are rarely just one ingredient. You’re basically gambling with your liver and kidneys on a cocktail nobody tested,” a medical doctor, Augsburg Habila, said.
A family physician, Dr Chika Ehiemere, questioned whether anyone within the medical sector would recommend a patient taking 22 tablets in one sitting.
“No responsible doctor is prescribing that for skin whitening. Having lighter skin is not worth the liver damage. These pills are often unregulated, and mega-dosing them is how people end up with organ problems,” he stated.
Also reacting to the video, a Sociology of Education expert, Dr John Jonah, described the act of swallowing 22 tablets at once, “just to look like another person”, as being rooted in a wrong perception of beauty which could pose health risks.
“That act is a slow suicide that is being filmed for content. The skin might shine today, but tomorrow, they will be battling with liver and kidney problems; then their families will start a GoFundMe, or rush to church and they will start a prayer chain, and people will still say, ‘But she was fine yesterday.’
“If the colour God has given you pains you to the point of swallowing a handful of unknown pills, then the problem is not from the skin; it’s in the head. You can’t bleach your way into value. You can only poison the body carrying you,” Jonah noted.
How spas use dietary supplements
When our correspondent forwarded the initial viral video made by Adedayo to two pharmacists, they identified some of the capsules she held in her palm as vitamin E, vitamin D and omega-3 supplements.
They warned that megadosing on vitamins and dietary supplements, as well as using oral skin-whitening supplements such as high-dose glutathione and alpha-lipoic acid, could pose serious health risks, including acute liver toxicity and kidney failure.
However, findings by Saturday PUNCH showed that a batch of dietary supplements such as glutathione capsules, vitamin C, collagen, zinc, vitamin E, biotin, selenium, multivitamins and combinations containing several of these ingredients are heavily recommended and sold by some spa owners, self-acclaimed skincare experts and vendors on social media.
These oral dietary supplements – often grouped into specific ‘beauty categories’ –are given to clients to help them achieve a “glow from within” and tackle chronic skin issues.
Rather than a formal pharmaceutical “prescription,” these are usually provided as part of holistic skin consultations, aesthetic treatments, or customised clinical nutrition plans.
A Lagos-based spa consultant who preferred to be called Anita Gogo told Saturday PUNCH that although she does not specialise in ‘whitening’ the skin of her clients, they can give them glutathione paired with vitamin C, Niacinamide, and Alpha-Arbutin capsules to fade dark spots and tackle hyperpigmentation
“We also use zinc supplements, vitamin A, and targeted “skin detox” herbal formulas to minimise breakouts or acne. We use Omega-3 fatty acids, Evening Primrose Oil, and Hyaluronic Acid capsules to hydrate their skin, which will make clients look younger in the long run.
“Skin dryness makes people look old quickly. We prescribe these supplements to help the skin rejuvenate itself from the inside out. But we don’t prescribe as many as 22 tablets as that viral video shows. In my own spa, I work with the skin colour of my clients. If you are caramel-skinned, what we will prescribe for you will be different from someone with dark skin,” Gogo noted.
However, Gogo stressed that having healthy skin goes beyond skincare or taking supplements. She noted that people needed to eat a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, and eggs.
“There is no need for megadoses of supplements. What you need to maintain your skin is adequate hydration, sun protection through broad-spectrum sunscreen, protective clothing and sensible sun avoidance,” she said.
Heavy social media marketing
Social media has been said to amplify unrealistic beauty standards for women and younger audiences. Two of the platforms that heavily shape these standards by promoting polished, highly curated and visually striking content are Instagram and TikTok.
Fittingly, many skincare vendors market their products and supplements on these platforms, with an emphasis on skin lightening.
Saturday PUNCH also observed that most of these skincare vendors on social media have strikingly light skin.
One of their clients, who confided in our correspondent, stated that this is one of the factors that boosts their patronage.
“Those who patronise them won’t believe in the efficacy of their skin-lightening products if they were brown- or dark-skinned. For me, the first thing I want to see is a video or photo of the skincare expert. If I can’t see the result of her product on her face, or she’s using filters, then I’m not buying,” a client of a skincare brand, Tosin Ogundeji, disclosed.
In a video posted on the Instagram account of a spa owner, Lolade Kalejaye, she showed off two sealed containers, which she said contained vitamin capsules costing N65,000 each.
“These are vitamin drugs, and I’ve been using them for quite a while now. I came here myself to buy them. Actually, I’m using cream as well, but sometimes, you just get tired of using cream. But if you are using these vitamin drugs, forget it; your skin will continue to become spotless.
“You know, sometimes, I also get dark spots, even on my hands, but later, you will see them becoming white again. In fact, I want to pack 10 of these at once because those riders might want to delay in picking them up,” Kalejaye said.
In another video posted by an Instagram skincare vendor named Betty, she held up three bottles of pills, which she identified as supplements containing glutathione.
“You know I don’t bring rubbish; come for this. These are standard whitening supplements. They contain glutathione, collagen, Vitamin C and other good additives. You can pair two of these together; they are very effective. They will make your skin glow, and they are anti-ageing too,” she said.
Also plying her trade, an Instagram skincare vendor, Tony Onyegiri, described supplements as the most important part of skincare.
“People buy a lot of skincare products but neglect supplements. Supplements are my number one skincare. It works internally and externally,” she said.
However, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control had disclosed that it sealed eight cosmetics shops in Wuse Market, Abuja, late last year for selling banned, expired, and unregistered cosmetics, aphrodisiacs, and aesthetic medicines.
“Some individuals at the outlets were also found posing as dermatologists and pharmacists to prescribe harmful products,” NAFDAC said.
Among the confiscated items valued at over N170 million were Wenicks capsules, Maxman capsules, skin whitening vitamin gummies, collagen, Royal Jelly, glutathione whitening gummies, Dynewell syrup, and White Blinks.
“These products are associated with serious health risks, including kidney damage, skin cancer, and neurological disorders,” the agency stated.
https://punchng.com/bleaching-from-within-nigerians-gamble-health-for-fair-skin/
