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Long before skin-lightening creams became a common feature of beauty routines, Naa Prof. Edmund Delle says he was warning about the potential dangers of bleaching.
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Long before skin-lightening creams became a common feature of beauty routines, Naa Prof. Edmund Delle says he was warning about the potential dangers of bleaching. But alongside that warning, the veteran dermatologist carries a childhood memory of a different approach to skincare: Ghanaian women using groundnut paste to clean and care for their skin.
The founder of Rabito Clinic recalled both experiences in an interview with broadcaster Kafui Dey, reflecting on how attitudes towards skin colour and beauty have changed over the years.
Prof. Delle said he raised concerns about skin bleaching as far back as 1975, when he believed many young women did not fully understand the possible risks.
“That is why in 1975 I was the first dermatologist in the world to bring about bleaching and I said bleaching can cause cancer,” he said.
He attributed his concern to the loss of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour and helps protect it against the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
“The great protector is the melanin,” he explained.
Prof. Delle said he had spent years encouraging people, particularly women, to resist the pressure to lighten their natural complexion.
“I’ve been telling my sisters, brothers and sisters, my sisters in particular, that never, never bleach your skin,” he said.
He urged those seeking healthier-looking skin to consult professionals rather than resort to potentially harmful products.
“If you want your skin to be beautiful, come to us. We’ll show you how it will be beautiful without your applying these damaging…” he added.
A childhood memory of groundnut paste
Beyond his concerns about bleaching, Prof. Delle offered a glimpse into the beauty practices he remembers from childhood.
He recalled watching women, including his mother, use groundnut paste on their bodies as part of their personal-care routine.
The women would take their time applying the paste and cleaning their skin before washing it off. He remembers their skin appearing clean and shiny afterwards.
“They use groundnut paste on their body as like an ointment,” he told Kafui Dey.
Explaining the practice, he added: “So it’s a natural way of keeping your skin. It’s a natural way. Groundnut paste.”
While Prof. Delle described groundnut paste as a traditional skincare practice, his recollection does not establish it as a medically proven treatment or a substitute for professional dermatological care.
Concerns over bleaching products
Prof. Delle also recounted arranging for a team from the Netherlands to study bleaching creams available in Ghana.
According to him, the team examined products on the market and later reported concerns about the people selling them. He said he was particularly surprised by accounts that some sellers appeared aware of the potential dangers but continued to make the products available.
“They themselves know of the dangers,” he recalled being told.
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