{
  "id": 13252511,
  "title": "Bleaching from within: Nigerians gamble health for fair skin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/bleaching-from-within-nigerians-gamble-health-for-fair-skin-13252511",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-09T23:30:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/bleaching-from-within-nigerians-gamble-health-for-fair-skin/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Nigerian woman, Divine Adedayo, founded a beauty spa in Lagos that promotes skin whitening through the use of supplements and creams. On September 29, she posted a video on social media showing herself swallowing 22 colorful pills and capsules, claiming they were for \"luxurious skin\". The video sparked backlash on social media, with concerns raised over the health risks associated with such practices. Adedayo defended her actions, stating the tablets were supplements, not drugs, and questioning why anyone would recommend taking them. Experts, including doctors and a sociologist, condemned the act, warning of potential liver and kidney damage from megadosing on vitamins and supplements. Meanwhile, spa owners and self-acclaimed skincare experts continue to offer oral dietary supplements to clients for achieving a \"glow from within\" and tackling skin issues.",
  "summary": "An investigation into how some Nigerians are swallowing handfuls of supplements and using whitening creams to achieve lighter skin, despite health risks. Read More: https://punchng.com/bleaching-from-within-nigerians-gamble-health-for-fair-skin/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Bleaching from within: Nigerians gamble health for fair skin",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/bleaching-from-within-nigerians-gamble-health-for-fair-skin",
        "published": "2026-10-09T23:26:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}