Bleached Babies: Western beauty ideals driving mental health concerns in Ghana – Dr Titus Beyuo

Dr. Titus Beyuo, a gynaecologist and former Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association, has raised concerns about a mental health crisis in Ghana. He believes this crisis is linked to an obsession with light skin and Western beauty standards.

His comments follow an investigation by JoyNews and Nigeria Health Watch. The investigation revealed that parents are bleaching the skin of their babies and young children using toxic substances.

In areas like Chorkor, a fishing community in Accra, skin tone is becoming a status symbol. Unfortunately, children are among the latest victims of this trend.

Mothers are using creams with harmful ingredients such as hydroquinone, mometasone, and tretinoin. These substances are banned by Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). Some even use household bleach sold as Parazone.

On Joy FM's Super Morning Show on June 2, Dr. Beyuo expressed serious concern about skin-lightening products. He highlighted the psychological motivations behind their use.

He noted that while these chemicals can cause medical issues, deeper psychological problems often drive people to use them. “Mental issues can predispose someone to the tendency to use these things,” he said.

Dr. Beyuo emphasized the importance of clinical psychologists in managing these issues. He warned of what he called a “community diagnosis of a mental problem.”

He suggested that an unhealthy value system has emerged in parts of Ghanaian society. Many now equate fairness with beauty, privilege, and success—an attitude that harms national identity and social cohesion.

“When society believes being fair makes you beautiful,” he stated, “we face a serious societal issue.”

He also pointed out troubling practices in schools where light-skinned pupils are favored for promotional materials. This aims to attract potential parents by showcasing ‘half-caste’ or white children.

“What does that mean?” Dr. Beyuo asked. “It reflects a distorted and harmful value system.”

He called for collective action against not just individuals who bleach their skin but also cultural norms that support colorism. “We may need to rehabilitate the entire society,” he asserted.

According to Dr. Beyuo, normalizing skin bleaching indicates deeper societal problems beyond individual struggles. He concluded that “a communal diagnosis and communal therapy may be required.”