Entertainment
Skin lightening a global trend and billion-dollar business
9:59 AM on 11/18/2009
(AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
The Today Show reported on the prevalence of skin whitening procedures in the US and around the world on Wednesday. Sparked by the appearance of baseball star, Sammy Sosa, last week with markedly lighter skin, the media has been buzzing about how and why some people lighten their skin.
Skin lightening is an international billion-dollar business that caters to millions of people around the world. There are dozens of techniques to lighten skin, including laser treatment, bleaching, skin creams, and chemical peels. Some of these methods involve dangerous ingredients including mercury.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Stay in the know with theGrio. Read latest news and features sent from theGrio right to your mailbox by signing up with your email.
Follow theGrio on Facebook & Twitter!
Top Stories
-
Reports: African-American homicide rates rising in Midwest states
theGRIO REPORT - Studies are revealing that more Midwest states have had significant increases in African-American homicide victims within the past few years...
more
- Happy birthday to the late, great, Bob Marley!
- Viola Davis stuns in LA Times mag photo spread
- Mary J. Blige on 'Wendy Williams': My marriage is 'not on the rocks'
- Jay-Z to launch 'From Marcy to Madison Square' Rocawear commercials
- The 10 best Super Bowl 2012 commercials
- Jamie Grace earns 1st Grammy nod, battles Tourette syndrome
- Obama, Romney look towards general election
- Oakland names first black woman to lead major US fire department
- Obama's grandma injured after car rolls in Kenya
- Hoekstra's broken English ad draws more criticism
- Obama regrets first lady being dragged into politics
- Obama leads Romney nationally in new Washington Post/ABC poll
- Amare Stoudemire's brother dies in Florida car crash
- Giants beat Patriots 21-17 to win the Super Bowl
- Obama won't be picking sides in Super Bowl
- The top 10 greatest black quarterbacks of all time (SLIDESHOW)
- 'Mean Joe Greene': Flashback to a Super Bowl ad classic (VIDEO)
- Super Bowl 2012: Will Chad Ochocinco have a chance to shine in the big game?
- Seattle woman awarded $975K in civil suit after giving birth in jail
- New inner-city health center opens in Boston
- Nick Cannon says he is completely healthy after illness
- Mississippi bill would force food stamp users to eat healthy
- Komen won't cut breast-screening grants to Planned Parenthood
- Tony Dorsett, Hall of Famer, suing NFL: 'They use you up'
- New survey finds: black women struggle to pay bills more than white women
- Slideshow: Mo' money, mo' problems! 20 celeb tax cheats
- 2/06/2012 - the Grio and CNBC Market Update
- Congress bans welfare recipients from using federal funds at strip clubs
- Birdman on sexual assault case: Cash Money was not involved
- Newt Gingrich: The poor 'need a trampoline' not a safety net
- The 10 most memorable presidential campaign themes (SLIDESHOW)
- Angelo Dundee dead: Legendary trainer for Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard dies at 90
- Black stars shine at 2012 SAG Awards (SLIDESHOW)
- 'Key & Peele' set to kick off: What are the best Obama parodies?
- Anthony Mackie in 'Man on a Ledge': Is he the next Denzel? (SLIDESHOW)
- Michael Jackson immortalized by his childen at Grauman's Chinese Theater (SLIDESHOW)
- Naketa Leiba: The search for missing Florida teen continues
- Eddie Long apologizes to Jewish community for 'crowning' ceremony
- Teen claims transvestite tricked him into thinking he was a woman
- TheGrio's 100: Chandra Gill, using her life experience to empower today's youth
- Clint Eastwood Chrysler Super Bowl ad appears pro-Obama
- New MLK assassination footage revealed in Smithsonian Channel doc
- Are black conservatives making a comeback?
- Chris Christie needs a history lesson on referendums and civil rights
- Black unemployment: What Washington can do now to address the high black jobless rate
- The trouble with Trump's Romney endorsement: It's the birtherism, stupid
- Eddie Long 'crowning': Why do black churches often put pastors on a pedestal?
- Why Jan Brewer's disrespect will motivate black voters for Obama
- 'The Obamas': Jodi Kantor White House book paints personal portrait of Barack and Michelle Obama
- San Diego African-American ministers sponsor gun exchange
- Rihanna and Mary J. Blige represent ends of R&B spectrum
- Why you can thank Drake now for 'Take Care'
- Does 'Tower Heist' steal black stars' dignity?
- Wale is winning on new 'Ambition' album
- Rev. Luter seeks to be first black man to lead Southern Baptist Convention
- Some blacks insist: 'I'm not African-American'
- Jhessye Shockley missing: Ariz. police begin searching landfill for girl
- Black drivers serve as decoys for US-Mexico human smugglers
- War vet denied benefits after being declared dead 4 times
- Brooklyn mom wins $13.5 million on lottery quick pick
- TheGrio Reflects: Malcolm X rails against complacent civil rights activists
- TheGrio Reflects: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul
- TheGrio Reflects: Muhammad Ali on Vietnam
- theGrio Reflects: The Story Of Emmett Till
- theGrio Reflects: the Underground Railroad
- theGrio Reflects: The 14th Amendment is adopted
- Black men a 'distinct minority' at HBCUs
- Robert M. Franklin is stepping down as president of Morehouse College
- Bill Cosby on education reform: More funding is not the answer
- Can Obama really stop kids from dropping out of high school?
- Duke students call for better climate for blacks
- Number of blacks applying to medicals school rises by 4.8 percent
- Beautyshop Buzz: How will the debt debate end?
- Beautyshop Buzz: Is race a factor in the Casey Anthony case?
- Beautyshop Buzz: What does Father's day mean to you?
- Beautyshop Buzz: What's next for Oprah?
- Beautyshop Buzz: Does your mother determine who you date?
- Beautyshop Buzz: Will you go bald for good hair?
- Barbershop Buzz: Can Spike Lee make a comeback?
- Barbershop Buzz: Is social media taking over?
- Barbershop Buzz: How do you feel about legalizing gay marriage?
- Barbershop Buzz: Can LeBron silence his critics?
- Barbershop Buzz: Should we ban saggy pants?
- Barbershop Buzz: Will you support President Obama in 2012?
Monthly Archives
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- February 2009
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Myspace
Flickr
Foursquare
Wordpress
Linkedin
Last.fm
Tumblr
Identi.ca
Plurk
