Global Beauty Trends: The Perception Of Beauty Around The World

Article From Penelope Andersan 

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What one person sees as attractive is often completely different from what someone else thinks. This is especially true when comparing the specific ideals of female beauty across different countries. The beauty standards set by the society we live in have tremendous influence on the styles and trends we are drawn to.

Here is an interesting example: In America, we see tan skin as beautiful. We strip down and have our bodies sprayed and contoured to get a golden glow. By comparison, a creamy complexion is considered beautiful in many parts of Asia. Japanese women often wear long sleeves and hats to the beach to keep their skin fair. When we are inundated with images of bronzed celebrities and ads for self-tanning products, it is easy to forget the same trend might not be as popular in other parts of the world.

In the past few years there have been some fascinating experiments done to see how the rest of the globe interprets beauty. In one, a journalist sent a photo of her face to freelancers in over 25 countries and asked them to make her look beautiful. A similar experiment had female graphic designers in 18 different countries Photoshop the image of a woman into the “ideal” body type according to the beauty standards where they live. In both experiments, all of the photos look vastly different from one another.

Comparisons like these fuel our fascination with global beauty trends. Why is plastic surgery so popular in South Korea? How do French women pull off an effortlessly gorgeous look? Here is a peek at how beauty is perceived and what cosmetic procedures are trending in six different parts of the world.

South Korea
The desire for a milky, smooth complexion is also popular in other parts of Asia, including South Korea. While pale skin was originally a signifier of wealth and prestige, the desire for white skin is now associated with youthfulness. The first signs of aging on Asian skin is pigmentation, not wrinkles, so men and women use beauty products with whitening agents to appear as light and ageless as possible.
These beauty products, known as K-beauty in the global market, are focused on health and hydration (we can thank South Korea for sheet face masks). It is about nourishing your skin so you look incredible with little to no makeup. Korean beauty consumers favor a dewy, glowing complexion with textured, yet natural eyebrows. Beauty trends lean towards soft, earth toned eyeshadow and natural lips with lightly tinted color.

In South Korea, having big, wide eyes is also considered beautiful. Every year, thousands of young people undergo double eyelid surgery to make their eyes appear larger. The procedure was the third most popular cosmetic surgery worldwide in 2016, when more than 1.3 million operations were reported.

When it comes to going under the knife, nowhere in Asia is plastic surgery more popular than South Korea. The research company Gallup Korea found that roughly one in three Korean women between the ages of 19 and 29 said they had cosmetic surgery. In addition to double eyelid surgery, jaw reduction is another popular procedure and is used to slim the chin and create the highly desired “V” face shape. In Korean culture, it is not uncommon for women to undergo rhinoplasty to make the nose bridge appear higher and more pronounced.

Despite the prevalence of plastic surgery in South Korea, the desired aesthetic is not to appear overly “done.” Rather, a woman undergoes a series of small and subtle operations to look different from everyone else – a more beautiful version of herself.

France
French ideals of beauty are imperfect, laid-back, and undone. In France, women believe the notion of beauty should be pleasing to oneself above all, and that the most beautiful women are the ones who look effortlessly gorgeous. Rather than using irritating skincare products, crash dieting, and plastic surgery to make themselves feel beautiful, women in Paris prioritize pleasure and love their bodies as they are.

When it comes to maintaining a flawless complexion, the French base their beauty routines on prevention, rather than quick fixes. Women take care of their skin from a young age using beauty routines and secrets passed down from their mothers and grandmothers. However, the French’s unfussy attitude towards beauty does not mean plastic surgery is off the table.

According to the most recent Global Aesthetic Survey released by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in France. Eyelid surgery is also common, listed as the number one facial cosmetic operation. Hyaluronic acid and Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX®) are the most common non-surgical procedures among French women.

Brazil
When we think about Brazilian beauty standards, the Brazilian Butt Lift and barely-there waxes are the first things that come to mind. This South American country is obsessed with beauty and being attractive is perceived as crucial to getting a job and finding a partner. In fact, beauty is such a central part of life in Brazil that plastic surgery is free or low-cost in public hospitals. This intense longing to be beautiful has made Brazil the second most popular country for plastic surgery with more than 2.5 million procedures performed in 2016.

The most popular plastic surgery in Brazil is liposuction, which is closely followed by breast augmentation. Abdominoplasty (also known as tummy tuck) and breast lift round out the top procedures in the country. The popularity of these body-sculpting surgeries is telling. Brazilians feel extreme pressure to have a perfect figure they can flaunt in a bikini. Women are even going as far as to have liposuction of the toes in pursuit of a flawless body.

When it comes to cosmetics, Brazilian women take a more natural approach. Brazil is a tropical country – it is hot and humid all year round – so a full face of makeup would instantly melt off. Brazilian beauty is based on a personal care routine that puts skincare front and center. Sunscreen is a must, as are beauty products with natural ingredients like coconut oil.

United States
It is somewhat hard to pinpoint the beauty standards in America since there is such a variety of cultures and races. And, what is considered beautiful has changed dramatically over the past few decades. In the ‘90s, the beauty standards were to be tall, thin, and fair-skinned. Beauty brands had complete control over what defined beauty. However, according to research by Mintel, the beauty industry is changing. Men and women are starting to embrace their imperfections and take control of how beauty is defined. Today, the confidence that comes from accepting and loving one’s body is considered beautiful.

While the body-positive movement is gaining momentum, there is still pressure to achieve the perfect figure. The Kardashians have set the bar high with tiny waists, voluptuous curves, and full lips – beauty trends that are unattainable for most women without cosmetic procedures. Perhaps that is part of the reason why the United States racked up the most plastic surgeries out of every country in the world. From New York to Los Angeles, a whopping 4.2 million operations were performed in 2016.

Breast augmentation is the most popular plastic surgery in the U.S., followed by liposuction. More than 1.1 million Americans received BOTOX® to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and prevent future signs of aging.

Spain
If you walk through the streets of Madrid or Barcelona, it is obvious that beauty is a central part of the culture in Spain. As in other European countries, the beauty standards are high – women considered attractive have a slim figure, light complexions, and are impeccably dressed. Hair care is important in Spain; attractive women have long, thick, silky brunette locks. Spanish women also take great care of their skin. They wear makeup every day, though it is very subtle and natural.

Plastic surgery is not as popular in Spain as it is elsewhere. Those who are opting to go under the knife are most likely getting breast augmentation and liposuction.

India
India has strict beauty standards girls are held to from a young age. There is a considerable amount of pressure from a woman’s family and neighbors to look a certain way. In India, beauty ideals include long, lustrous black hair, almond-shaped eyes, natural lips, dark eyebrows, thick eyelashes, and a straight, pointed nose.
Perhaps the most significant indicator of beauty in India is fair skin. The biggest Bollywood actors and actresses endorse beauty products that contain whitening agents that promise a lighter complexion. There are countless beauty brands to choose from, as well as DIY tutorials on social media that offer skin whitening tips and tricks. In India, the link between fair skin and beauty is undeniable.

India is an emerging market when it comes to plastic surgery. Rhinoplasty is the most popular facial procedure, while liposuction and abdominoplasty are the most requested body sculpting operations. A surprising number of men are also undergoing plastic surgery in India. There were thousands of hair transplants and gynecomastia surgeries (also known as male breast reduction) performed in 2016.

This article was sent in from AEDITION

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Acute Hunger Forces IDP Children In Nigeria To Feed On Onion Leaves

Intense hunger due to inadequate food items in an Internally Displaced Persons, IDP, camp at the outskirts of Bauchi State, has forced children to feed on onion leaves for survival.

Reporters, who visited the camp, located about two km from Rindebin community in Bauchi Local Government Area, noted that the children, between the ages of three and five, looked pitiful as they consume the leaves.

Meanwhile, the umbrella body of Christians in Nigeria, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, yesterday lamented the pathetic situation in IDP camps in Bauchi and several others across the nation, saying that shows the level the ugly state the Nigerian human life has been degraded to.

Director of Legal and Public Affairs, CAN, Mr Samuel Kwankur said recent gestures by CAN and other public spirited organisations should only be regarded as attempts to cushion the hardship suffered by these Nigerians..

Similarly, the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has called for investigation into allegations that IDPs have resorted to eating onion leaves to survive.

Secretary General of the forum, Anthony Sani in an interview with Vanguard, said journalists should also pay more attention to the plight of internally displaced persons.

We Are Helpless - Parents 

Some of the parents of the children interviewed said there was not enough food, as such, they had to ‘improvise’ ways of tackling hunger. They said they believed onion leaves were nutritious and would also protect their children from hunger and diseases.

One of the parents, Aisha Musa, said that for the past one year, children and adults in the camp had been struggling to survive, with little or no assistance from all quarters.

Another parent, Ajidda Ahmed, said the hardship being encountered were enormous, adding that most of them had given up any hope of living a normal life.

“Both adults and children suffer from hunger; this has resulted in forcing us to eat raw onion leaves from sellers that come into the camp.

“Rainy season is about to set in and another fear is the outbreak of childhood diseases. Because for the past year, our children were not immunised and there are no water, sanitation and hygiene facilities.

“We defecate in the bush and the rainwater will soon wash our faeces back to the stream, where we source for water to drink,” she lamented.

It was also observed that children under two years in the camp were showing signs of malnutrition.

Commenting on the situation, the leader of the IDP camp, Bulama Gojja, said that there were over 200 people of the Shuwa-Arab stock from Marte, Marfa and Jere local governments of Borno State. He said they were forced to relocate to the camp last year as a result of the activities of ‘Boko-Haram’ insurgents.

Gojja enumerated their challenges to include insufficiency of food items, lack of potable water, health facility and education for their children.

He said that in 2018, no fewer than 20 pregnant women delivered in the camp without the required medical attention, expressing fears that the off-springs might develop health challenges due to lack of immunization.

He lamented that in spite of their efforts at drawing sympathy over their plight, assistance was not forthcoming from any quarters.

The leader, therefore, solicited for assistance from both government and non-governmental organisations, particularly in the areas of health, education, potable water and agriculture inputs like fertiliser, seed and herbicides to enable them engage in farming.

When contacted yesterday for comment, the Bauchi State Government, through one of its senior officials, said a visit had been scheduled for the IDP camp today, and they will react accordingly after the visit.

Similarly, an official of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, who spoke for the agency, said they will react after a visit to the camp today.

CAN Laments the Situation in IDP Camps 

Meanwhile, CAN, speaking through Kwankur remarked: “It’s the responsibility of government to take charge of the day-to-day upkeep of the displaced persons at the camp.  It’s unfortunate that today, human life has been reduced to despicable level and people are now being treated with so much disdain.

“If any disaster happens outside the country, the authorities are quick to respond and sometimes rush relief materials to the affected nations, but disasters in our backyard here are treated with so much levity and the victims are often abandoned for days.

“It has gotten to the extent when agencies have clamped down on certain electronic media, warning them to refrain from showing horrifying pictures on their networks.”

Kwankur, however, appealed to the Federal Government to rise up to the challenge of adequately feeding internally displaced persons because it’s not by choice that they find themselves in such places.

“It’s indeed disheartening that there are IDPs in Bauchi. If they are fall-outs from crises in other states, government should make haste to resettle them in their places of abode,” he stated.

ACF on IDP Crisis 

ACF reacting through Anthony Sani, said: “If the reports are true that the IDP camp in Bauchi is being starved of food, then the media should investigate and draw the attention of government and those in charge to the situation.

“Because of paucity of funds, it is hard for governments to do enough. What one can say is to submit that if they cannot increase the resources at their disposal, they should increase the yield through effective and efficient management practices,” he said.

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Wake Up! See 10 Wrong Assumptions You Make About Sleep

Sleep is this, sleep is that, it will help you do this, it will help you do that… just stop, stop it!

I know, so many things have been said about what sleep is or isn’t, and so many of us have lived our lives by the rule book of what to do to get better sleep or why we need to sleep this or that way.

Rebecca Robins, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Population Health at New York University (NYU), Langone Health and her team combed a massive 8,000 websites gathering all the wrong kinds of stuff people have said about sleep or all the things you thought you knew about good sleeping habit.

We profile 10 of the lot and I’m sure you’ll find something about you here.

1. Adults need five or fewer hours of sleep 

“If you wanted to have the ability to function at your best during the day, not to be sick, to be mentally strong, to be able to have the lifestyle that you would enjoy, how many hours do you have to sleep?” asked senior study investigator Girardin Jean-Louis, a professor in the Department of Population Health.

“It turns out a lot of people felt less than five hours of sleep a night was just fine,” he said. “That’s the most problematic assumption we found.”

We’re supposed to get between seven and 10 hours of sleep each night, depending on our age, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that a third of Americans sleep fewer than seven hours a night. According to World Sleep Day statistics, sleep deprivation is threatening the health of up to 45% of the global population.

“We have extensive evidence to show that sleeping five hours a night or less, consistently, increases your risk greatly for adverse health consequences, including cardiovascular disease and early mortality,” Robbins said.

In a longitudinal study of 10,308 British civil servants published in 2007, researchers found that those who reduced their sleep from seven to five hours or fewer a night were almost twice as likely to die from all causes, especially cardiovascular disease.

Science has also linked poor slumber with high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, weight gain, a lack of libido, mood swings, paranoia, depression and a higher risk of diabetes, stroke, dementia and some cancers.

2. It’s healthy to be able to fall asleep ‘anywhere, anytime’ 

Falling asleep as soon as the car/train/airplane starts moving is not a sign of a well-rested person, sleep experts say. In fact, it’s just the opposite.

“Falling asleep instantly anywhere, anytime, is a sign that you are not getting enough sleep and you’re falling into ‘micro-sleeps’ or mini-sleep episodes,” Robbins said. ‘It means your body is so exhausted that whenever it has a moment, it’s going to start to repay its sleep debt.”

You feel sleepy because of a buildup of a chemical called adenosine in the brain, which happens throughout the day as you head toward night. Sleeping soundly reduces that chemical so that when you wake up, the levels are at their lowest, and you feel refreshed.

But the longer you stay awake and the less sleep you get, the more your adenosine levels rise, creating what’s called a sleep load or sleep debt.

Want to check your level of sleepiness? Look at the Epworth sleepiness scale, and if you’re worried, check in with a sleep doctor who can do more extensive testing in a sleep lab.

3. Your brain and body can adapt to less sleep 

People also believed that the brain and body could adapt and learn to function optimally with less sleep. That too is a myth, experts say. That’s because your body cycles through four distinct phases of sleep to fully restore itself.

In stage one, you start to lightly sleep, and you become disengaged from your environment in stage two, where you will spend most of your total sleep time. Stages three and four contain the deepest, most restorative sleep and the dreamy state of REM, or rapid eye movement sleep.

“During REM, the brain is highly reactive,” Robbins said. “It almost looks like your brain is awake if we hook you up to two more electrodes and were able to monitor your brain waves.”

REM can occur any time during the sleep cycle, but on average, it starts about 90 minutes after you’ve fallen asleep. REM is when your body and brain are busy storing memories, regulating mood and learning. It’s also when you dream. Your arm and leg muscles are temporarily paralyzed during REM sleep, so you can’t act out your dreams and injure yourself.

Because a good night’s sleep gives your sleep cycle time to repeat, you’ll go through several REM cycles, which take up about 25% of your total sleeping time.

Another important stage of sleep is deep sleep when your brain waves slow into what is called delta waves or slow-wave sleep. It’s the time when the human growth hormone is released and memories are further processed.

“The deeper stages of sleep are really important for the generation of neurons, repairing muscle and restoring the immune system,” Robbins said.

It’s tough to wake a person from a deep sleep. If you do wake, you can feel groggy and fatigued; mental performance can be affected for up to 30 minutes, studies show.

4. Snoring, although annoying, is mostly harmless 

In your dreams, maybe. In fact, “loud, raucous snores interrupted by pauses in breathing” is a marker for sleep apnea, a dangerous sleep disorder that, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, increases risk for heart attacks, atrial fibrillation, asthma, high blood pressure, glaucoma, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and cognitive and behavior disorders.

“Sleep apnea is extremely exhausting,” Robbins said. “These patients sleep and then they wake up over and over; then they are fighting sleep all day long because they’re so exhausted. It’s also very underdiagnosed. We believe it affects about 30% of the population, and around 10% are diagnosed.”

5. Drinking alcohol before bed helps you fall sleep

Do you think a nightcap before bed will help you fall asleep and stay asleep? Dream on.

Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but that’s where the benefits end, Robbins said. Instead, it traps you in the lighter stages of sleep and “dramatically reduces the quality of your rest at night.”

“It continues to pull you out of rapid eye movement and the deeper stages of sleep, causing you to wake up not feeling restored,” Robbins said.

6. Not sleeping? Stay in bed with eyes closed and try and try 

You have to admit, it makes sense: How can you fall asleep if you’re not in the bed trying? Yet sleep experts say that continuing to count sheep for more than 15 minutes isn’t the smartest move.

“If we stay in bed, we’ll start to associate the bed with insomnia,” Robbins said. She equates it to “going to the gym and standing on a treadmill and not doing anything.”

In reality, Robbins said, it takes a healthy sleeper about 15 minutes to fall asleep. If you’re tossing and turning much longer than that, you should get out of bed, change the environment and do something mindless: “Keep the lights low and fold socks,” she suggested.

Some people also believe that it’s just as refreshing to your body to lie in bed with eyes closed but not sleeping. Nope. That’s another pipe dream, experts say.

7. It doesn’t matter what time of day you sleep 

Sleep experts say that’s another myth that can negatively affect your health.

“We recommend that people have a regular sleep schedule because it controls what we call the biological clock, or circadian rhythm, of the body,” Jean-Louis said. “That controls all the hormones of the body, body temperature, eating and digestion, and sleep-wake cycles.”

When your inner clock and the outside world are out of phase, you can feel disoriented, mentally foggy and sleepy at times when you need to be functioning at optimal levels. Just think of what happens when you travel across time zones or when daylight savings time kicks in.

Studies of shift workers, who work unusual hours and live out of sync with their normal biological rhythm, show that they are at increased risk for heart disease, ulcers, depression, obesity and certain cancers, as well as a higher rate of workplace accidents and injuries due to a slower reaction rate and poor decision-making.

8. Watching TV in bed helps you relax

Come on, we all do it — or we check our laptop or smartphone before we power down for the night. Unfortunately, that sets us up for a bad night.

“These devices emit bright blue light, and that blue light is what tells our brain to become alive and alert in the morning,” Robbins explained. “We want to avoid blue light before bed, from sources like a television or your smartphone, and do things that relax you.”

According to the National Sleep Foundation, blue light affects the release of melatonin, the sleep hormone, more than any other wavelength of light. Watching TV or using an electronic device within two hours of bedtime means it will take you longer to fall asleep, you’ll have less dream state or REM sleep, and even if you do sleep eight or more hours, you’ll wake feeling groggy.

If you or your children can’t make that two-hour cutoff because of homework or late-night work demands, experts suggest dimming the brightness of the screen or installing an app that can warm the screen to the sunset colors. Red and yellow have higher wavelengths and don’t affect melatonin.

9. Hitting snooze is great! No need to get up right away

Raise your hand if you hit the snooze button. Why not, right?

“Resist the temptation to snooze, because unfortunately, your body will go back to sleep — a very light, low-quality sleep,” Robbins said.

As you near the end of your sleep, your body is probably nearing the end of its last REM cycle. Hit that snooze button, and the brain falls right back into a new REM cycle. Now, when the alarm goes off a few minutes later, you’ll be in the middle, not the end, of that cycle, and you’ll wake up groggy and stay that way longer.

Having trouble kicking the snooze button habit? Put the alarm on the other side of the room, so you have to get out of bed to turn it off.

And no, you can’t tell Google or Alexa to turn it off. That’s cheating.

10. Remembering your dreams is a sign of good sleep 

“That’s a myth, because all of us do experience dreams four to five times a night,” Jean-Louis said. “And we don’t remember because we’ve not woken up and disrupted our sleep.”

A study out of France showed that people who frequently remember their dreams have higher brain activity in the information-processing hub of the brains. They also woke twice as often during the night and were more sensitive to sounds when sleeping and awake.

“Now, I will tell you if you have a dream with a strong emotional context, it may come back to you at say, two o’clock in the afternoon, when you have some downtime to relax,” Jean-Louis said. “Sometimes, something would trigger that. But if it is a weird little mundane dream, most of us who sleep well don’t remember those.”

Culled CNN

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Why Zobo, Ginger Are Good For Weight Control - Experts

Obesity is a major public health problem associated with an increased incidence of diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease and certain types of cancer.

Several approaches have been made towards combating obesity, which include lifestyle changes, exercising to induce weight loss and reducing fat accumulation and dietary approaches like the caloric restriction that have no long-lasting effect.

Now, researchers are considering edible plants such as zobo and onions to combat obesity and its related diseases. Studies on zobo, ginger and onion showed that they contain chemical substances that are potent materials for treatment of obesity.

In new the study, researchers said modulation of certain strains of “good” friendly germs in the intestine as a result of onion supplementation has a therapeutic effect on obesity in mice.

The human body contains trillions of bacteria. The majority of these bacteria are located in a part of the intestines called the cecum. Bacteria in the intestine play several important roles in health, such as communicating with the immune system and producing certain vitamins.

The bacteria in the intestine can also affect how different foods are digested and produce chemicals that help make feel full. As a result, they can affect weight.

For example, humans cannot digest fibre but certain bacteria inside the intestine can. By digesting fibre, these gut bacteria produce a number of chemicals that benefit gut health and possibly promote weight loss.

A number of studies have shown that people with high fibre intake have a lower weight, which may be due to the role that gut bacteria play in digesting fibre.

A recent study found that the ratio of two types of bacteria in the intestines may determine how much weight is lost when given a particular diet.

These two bacteria are Prevotella, which digests fibre and carbohydrates, and Bacteroidetes, which people who eat more animal protein and fat have more of.

In 2019, Italian researchers in an overview of the studies focusing on potential benefits of onion in the treatment of obesity and related co-morbidities stated that onion enriched food might play an important role in the development of healthier foods useful against obesity.

According to the journal, Molecules, some studies showed that concentrated extract of onion can suppress fat accumulation or deposit, obesity-induced inflammation, increase energy expenditure in response to caloric excess, and significantly prevent an increase in cholesterol induced by a high-fat diet.

They added that quercetin and organosulfur compounds seems to be the compounds responsible for the anti-obesity potential of onion and so the most promising molecules for a therapeutic application.

Moreover, another study indicates the beneficial effects of ginger on the prevention of obesity through modulation of friendly bacteria in the intestine of mice.

In 2019 edition of European Journal of Nutrition, researchers in China observed marked decreases in body weight, liver fat, and low-grade inflammation as well as ameliorate insulin resistance in the mice high-fat diet that was treated with ginger.

They declared, “This study suggests that modulation of the gut microbiota as a result of ginger supplementation has a therapeutic effect on obesity in mice.”

Ginger, one of the most commonly used spices and dietary supplements, has been shown to exert beneficial effects against obesity and related disorders.

Similarly, researchers in 2019 edition of Molecules examined the effects of zobo on various parameters associated with the development of obesity such as body weight, fat accumulation in adipose tissue and blood cholesterol level.

Zobo also known as Roselle has a long history of usage as a beverage and folk medicine in places such as Thailand and, Nigeria, China, and India.

They said that zobo contain substances that are potent in the treatment of obesity with an evident reduction in body weight, inhibition of lipid accumulation and suppression of fat deposit.

Meanwhile, a number of different foods are good for gut bacteria, including whole grains that have not been refined. They are high in fibre, which is digested by healthy gut bacteria like Bifidobacteria and may aid weight loss.

Also Fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and seeds, also contain many different fibres that are good for gut bacteria. Eating an assortment of plant-based foods, including nuts and seeds can improve gut bacteria diversity, which is linked to a healthy weight.

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Debate Rages On Talcum Baby Powder’s Association With Lung, Ovarian Cancers

The debate on whether the use of the popular talcum powder causes cancer has refused to go away. Indeed, the use of talcum powder has become a controversial issue as growing evidence suggests that its use may be related to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

Recall that Nigeria Natural Health Online www.kimekwu.com, a couple of weeks ago, published a story on research findings that talcum powder could be linked to lung and ovarian cancers.

Talcum powder is made from talc, a mineral made up mainly of the elements magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. As a powder, it absorbs moisture well and helps cut down on friction, making it useful for keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes. It is widely used in cosmetic products such as baby powder and adult body and facial powders, as well as in a number of other consumer products.

In its natural form, some talc contains asbestos, a substance known to cause cancers in and around the lungs when inhaled.

While mesothelioma is the cancer most often associated with asbestos, there is growing evidence that trace amounts of the mineral in talcum powder could trigger other types of cancer, including ovarian cancer in women.

The Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association, a trade group in the United States that represents manufacturers of these kinds of products, adopted guidelines in 1976 to ensure that talc products would not contain asbestos. The guidelines were voluntary and stated that any asbestos found in natural talc would be removed so that consumer products would not have any detectable levels.

In spite of the guidelines designed to protect consumers from the harm of asbestos found in hygiene and other personal products, studies since the 1970s have found that talcum powder does still often contain the contaminant. One study tested several products and found that many contained asbestos that could easily be inhaled by anyone using them.

In the United States, Johnson & Johnson is being investigated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission after questions surfaced about the safety of the company’s baby powder.

The investigation and subpoenas come on the heels of a Reuter’s report that suggested the company knew for years that its baby powder contained small amounts of asbestos, which is a human carcinogen.

The reason there could be asbestos in baby powder is that one of the primary ingredients is talc: a mineral that is often found and mined near asbestos.

The Guardian investigation revealed that so many talcum powder products are registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The products are in circulation and are used by both the young and the old.

Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, told The Guardian that the subject of link between talc powder and cancer has been a controversial issue, which continues to divide scientists. “There is no clear scientific evidence on the issue,” she said.

The pharmacist said evidence showing that talc may be carcinogenic remains inconclusive because a school of thought believes that talc in its natural state contains asbestos (a carcinogen) whereas another school of thought believes it does not. From the foregoing, she said, it is the asbestos component of talc, if truly present, that is capable of causing cancer in talc powder. “Generally, facts hold that there are asbestos-free talc as well as asbestos-containing talc, though the evidence about asbestos free talc is less clear” Adeyeye said.

The NAFDAC DG concluded: “So the simple answer is that talc powder made from asbestos-containing talc is capable of causing cancer whereas talc powder made from asbestos-free talc is not expected to cause cancer.

“For asbestos-containing talc powder which may be ‘yes’ and depending on the site of application (say, pubic area of a woman), the talc powder particles may travel through the private part, the fallopian tubes (oviducts) and eventually enter the ovaries to cause irritation and inflammation from which cancerous cells are able to develop. For asbestos-free talc powder which may be ‘no’, the absence of asbestos (the suspected carcinogen) makes it difficult for cancerous cells to develop.”

Adeyeye said NAFDAC conducts analytical tests before registration of all regulated products including talc powder to ensure their fitness (quality and safety) for use. Also, she said, post marketing surveillance activities are being improved with inclusion of post marketing analysis of regulated products to ensure continuous conformity with the standards and requirements precedent to registration of the products at the outset.

In addition, the NAFDAC DG said if an untoward events or reactions are associated with the use of any product, including talc powder, the product can be banned or withdrawn from the circulation through a process of recall.

What is the implication to the health and lives of Nigerians if talc powder can actually cause cancer? Adeyeye said if any talc powder could actually cause cancer it will not be registered for use in Nigeria because the result of its analysis would have revealed that it contains asbestos-containing talc. “As earlier mentioned, if the product is suspected to contain any carcinogen it would be withdrawn from the circulation and/or banned,” she said.

Adeyeye said the summary is that NAFDAC has the responsibility to safeguard the health of the nation hence a case of untoward health implication is being addressed on daily basis by the Agency.

However, researchers are unanimous that talc or talcum powder can cause cancer.

They said talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled. The evidence about asbestos-free talc is less clear.

“The health implication of using talc that contains asbestos is that it causes cancer,” said a consultant epidemiologist, Dr. Anthony Nwaoney.

The epidemiologist told The Guardian that most concerns about a possible link between talcum powder and cancer have been focused on: whether people who have long-term exposure to talc particles at work, such as talc miners, are at higher risk of lung cancer from breathing them in; and whether women who apply talcum powder regularly in the genital area have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is part of the World Health Organization (WHO). Its major goal is to identify causes of cancer.

IARC classifies talc that contains asbestos as “carcinogenic to humans.”

Based on the lack of data from human studies and on limited data in lab animal studies, IARC classifies inhaled talc not containing asbestos as “not classifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans.”

Based on limited evidence from human studies of a link to ovarian cancer, IARC classifies the perineal (genital) use of talc-based body powder as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”

Director General, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Babatunde Irukera, told The Guardian: “We have sent out an advisory on this issue. Although the science behind it is inconclusive, there is need to alert consumers of the possibility of talc powder laden with asbestos causing lung and ovarian cancers. The Nigerian public should be well informed so that they can make choices. They can decide that because of the controversy to use powders made with corn starch.”

The CPC had in early February 2019 alerted the public of a fake Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Talc Powder in circulation.

The agency said in a statement: “The CPC has become aware that credible judicial process recently decided that Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Talc (Baby/Body) powder may be harmful and injurious to users. The product is popularly known as Johnson’s Baby Powder (product of Johnson & Johnson).”

The statement signed by Irukera said specifically, a court in the United States decided the company failed to warn consumers about the potential health risks associated with using its baby and body powder products.

The CPC said the plaintiffs in the case had claimed that asbestos (a known carcinogen, allegedly present in the talc-an ingredient of the products) caused them to develop ovarian cancer.

Although J&J has already indicated its intention to appeal the case, Irukera said the Council considers it important to alert and educate consumers in Nigeria as they make choices with respect to baby and body powders.

The Council noted that regulatory documents filled in the United States reveal that there are more than 9,000 plaintiffs against the company in cases involving their talc body powder.

The CPC noted that scientific findings in support of the decision of the court above are otherwise inconclusive. “Regardless, a consumer advisory in this regard is appropriate. The Council recognizes that the NAFDAC and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) are relevant and key regulators with respect to food and drug safety and standards. The Council is in communication with both regulators accordingly,” it noted.

The Council encouraged consumers to proceed with an abundance of caution, and to contact NAFDAC, SON or the CPC with any questions while considering alternatives such as face/skin powders containing corn starch instead of talc.

Indeed, over 9,000 consumers have filed baby powder lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson. Most of these consumers are women who have ovarian cancer. According to their claims, they believe that their cancer developed due to using talcum powder on their genitals.

These women back their claims with a variety of studies that have found that long-term use of talcum powder on female genitals may increase the risk of ovarian cancer.

In recent years women who developed ovarian cancer after decades of using baby powder products have been suing the companies responsible, most notably Johnson & Johnson. An important piece of evidence arose during a trial on behalf of Jackie Fox, a woman who died from ovarian cancer. Her family sued Johnson & Johnson and won a jury-awarded settlement of $72 million.

The family’s legal team presented evidence that the company knew there was a link between using baby powder and developing ovarian cancer. An internal memo made it clear the company was aware of the risk but continued selling the product with no warnings to consumers. This was a major win and proof that women like Ms. Fox deserved to be compensated for the damage talcum powder caused.

That case has been followed by many, including a big win for 22 women who together filed a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. The jury awarded $4.7 billion to the women, which included $4.14 in punitive damages to the company for failing to warn consumers of the risks of ovarian cancer from using their products. Not only did the women and their families in this case get such a big win, but also the company lost a bid to get the award reversed. A judge upheld the jury’s decision.

J&J has said it will appeal the recent verdicts against it. It has maintained in public statements that its talc is safe, as shown for years by the best tests available, and that the information it has been required to divulge in recent litigation shows the care the company takes to ensure its products are asbestos-free. It has blamed its losses on juror confusion, “junk” science, unfair court rules and overzealous lawyers looking for a fresh pool of asbestos plaintiffs.

“Plaintiffs’ attorneys out for personal financial gain are distorting historical documents and intentionally creating confusion in the courtroom and in the media,” Ernie Knewitz, J&J’s vice president of global media relations, wrote in an emailed response to Reuters’ findings. “This is all a calculated attempt to distract from the fact that thousands of independent tests prove our talc does not contain asbestos or cause cancer. Any suggestion that Johnson & Johnson knew or hid information about the safety of talc is false.”

Indeed, there is a very real possibility that talcum powder can increase the risk and even cause the development of ovarian cancer in women who have used it for a long time. The longer the period of use and greater the regularity of use of baby powder, the bigger the risk is. Women need to know about this risk so they can make the right choice for hygiene. Companies like Johnson & Johnson are increasingly being held to account for asbestos and ovarian cancer, but the risk is still real and present.

The issue was first investigated in 1971 when researchers found talc particles in ovarian tumors. A later study in 1982 saw a possible connection between ovarian cancer and using talc on genitals.

More recently, a 2014 study found no link between talc and ovarian cancer. However, research from 2016 found that using talc on the genitals could increase the risk of ovarian cancer by 33 percent in participants. However, the study relied on personal interviews based on participants’ memories, which may not be accurate.

According to a 2018 review, there is a weak but statistically significant association between ovarian cancer and talcum powder used on genitals.

However, given this conflicting evidence, as well as many other risk factors of ovarian cancer, such as older age, long-term hormone therapy, family history, and genetics, scientists are unable to say for sure that talcum powder causes cancer.

Although the overall lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer is low, it is one of the most deadly gynecological cancers. Therefore it is important to recognize some of the major signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer for early detection and diagnosis.

Signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include: lower abdominal pain or pressure; weight gain or weight loss; abnormal periods; gas, nausea, or vomiting; and trouble eating or feeling “full” after eating.

While these symptoms may be associated with other benign conditions, it is always important to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your doctor.

A new study published in the journal Epidemiology, analysed the use of talcum powder in over 4,000 women with and without ovarian cancer. The authors found that use of talcum powder in the genital region may increase a woman’s risk for ovarian cancer by 33 per cent, especially in instances where the powder was used daily.

The researchers insist that more research is necessary to determine how talcum powder causes cancer. In the meantime, the American Cancer Society suggests that it may be prudent to avoid or limit use of products containing talc, if you are concerned about developing ovarian cancer.

One study of note compared talcum powder use and rates of ovarian cancer in over 1,000 women. The study compared the personal hygiene habits of nearly 600 women with ovarian cancer and about 700 women without that diagnosis. The study found that regular use of talcum powder on the genitals increased the risk of developing ovarian cancer by 44 percent. The lifetime risk of ovarian cancer for women who used talcum powder was significantly higher than for those who did not. Another study found similar results after investigating more than 8,000 women.

Also important was a study that investigated how talc could cause ovarian cancer. It may be that talc particles migrate from the external genital area to the interior, all the way to the ovaries. The study found that this is, in fact, possible. Researchers examined tissue from ovarian tumors and found that they contained particles of talc.

A study published in the journal Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry established that cosmetic facial talcum powders marketed in Nigeria contains toxic trace metals such as lead.

The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of Pb (lead), Cd (cadmium), Co (copper), and Cr (chromium) in cosmetic talcum powders regularly used in Nigeria.

The researchers said the results of the study were generally within regulatory limits and the slightly elevated levels of lead in few samples indicate that the use of certain talcum powder products could constitute trace metal exposure routes to users. “Thus, there is a need for regulation of trace metal levels in cosmetic powders through the establishment of national guidelines,” they said.

According to another study published in American Journal of Industrial Medicine, lead acetate administered orally, cutaneously, or intraperitoneally causes kidney cancer, brain cancer (gliomas), and lung cancer in rodents, and acts synergistically with other carcinogens.

IARC classified lead as a “possible human carcinogen” based on sufficient animal data and insufficient human data in 1987.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) repeatedly inhaling talc might harm the lungs.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have a stand on the issue due to the ongoing scientific debate.

The European Union, however, has banned talc in beauty and health products, so people cannot purchase it in certain European countries.

While talcum powder remains popular, there are no medical reasons to use it. The choice is up to the individual whether they wish to use talcum powder or not.

According to some reports, talcum powder may cause respiratory problems in babies if inhaled.

Alternatives to talc-based baby powders include: cornstarch powders; arrowroot starch powders; tapioca starch powders; oat flour; baking soda; and zinc-based diaper rash creams for infants and toddlers.

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Researchers Create Electronic Bandage That Helps Wounds Heal Four Times Faster

A bandage that generates a gentle electrical current could help wounds heal four times faster, research suggests.The electronic device, which has yet to be named, was wrapped around the chests of rats which had a cut on their backs. Every time the rodents took a breath, an electrical pulse was generated, which was found to speed up their healing process.

This caused skin-healing cells, known as fibroblasts, to flock to the injured area, which encouraged the production of collagen and new skin cells. The study was carried out by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, United States (U.S.), and led by recent graduate Yin Long. Diabetic foot, leg ulcers and surgical wounds are among the skin injuries that often do not heal.

They affect more than 6.5million people every year in the US, the authors wrote in the journal ACS Nano. It is unclear how common they are in the United Kingdom (UK). Electrical stimulation to promote wound healing was first recognised in the 1960s to reduce swelling, boost blood flow and stimulate the growth of new tissue.

But it typically requires ‘clumsy electrical systems’ that can only be used in hospitals, the authors wrote. After creating the self-powered e-band, the researchers tested it on groups of rats with a 1cm cut on their backs. Other rodents wore the same band but the electrical current was ‘turned off’ – these acted as the controls.

After two days, the rats who wore the ‘turned on’ device had almost completely healed, while the control animals still had their wounds intact.
The researchers then repeated the experiment on wounds that took up the width of the animals’ backs. They found the e-band led to ‘complete closure’ of the wound within three days, while 46 per cent of the controls’ injuries were still ‘open’.

It took between 10 and 12 days for the control wounds to heal to the same extent, according to the researchers. The band also appeared to be safe, with the rodents suffering no side effects. The low level of electricity that was generated also meant the animals showed no signs of being in pain or uncomfortable.The researchers hope a similar device could one day be used to improve the appearance of chickenpox scars, acne and rosacea. They argue existing methods of promoting healing, such as bandages, dressing and oxygen therapy, are limited in their effectiveness

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