Doctors warn people who bleach their skin to stay out of the sun as temperatures climb

Doctors are warning Zambians who use skin-bleaching products to stay out of the sun as temperatures rise across the country. The advice follows warnings of soaring temperatures from the Meteorological Department, which has not given specific figures in the reports available. Many people complained about the heat during the Independence Day events on Saturday. Dr Jifumbe Mkandawire, a dermatologist, says bleaching weakens the skin's natural barrier, which leaves users more exposed to ultraviolet rays. He says he sees about three patients a day with skin damage from the practice and that most arrive after serious harm has been done. "We have many clients, which I never bothered to count, on average, three people per day," he said. He named potent corticosteroids, hydroquinone, mercury-containing products and unregulated mixtures as ingredients that make the skin more sensitive. For anyone who must go outdoors, he recommended sunscreen of SPF 50, a bucket hat and light, long-sleeved clothing. Dr Mildred Nakazwe, a plastic surgeon at the University Teaching Hospital, says bleaching can thin the skin, which raises the risk of bruising and infection and slows the healing of wounds. "The bleaching creams destroy the melanin in the skin, which provides protection against ultraviolet light," she said, adding that this raises the risk of sunburn and skin cancer. She advised the public to stop using skin-bleaching creams. ## Why it matters October is among the hottest months in Zambia before the rains, and the government's El Niño plan warns that the coming season may be hotter and drier in the south. A bottle of SPF 50 sunscreen may be out of reach for many households, but the doctors' simplest advice costs little: cover up, wear a hat and stay in the shade. ## What happens next The doctors' advice applies for as long as the hot weather lasts. Dr Nakazwe's message to people who use the creams is to stop. Source: The Zambian Observer, 25 October 2026, 11:49 (Africa/Lusa