Creamy Nightmare on the Facebook, Telegram Prowl

Dec 25 , 2021
By Eden Sahle

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I recently had a severe food allergic reaction that landed me in a dermatologist's office. The reaction left large, visible red marks on my skin, triggering my internist doctor who treated my allergies to refer me.

To avoid the long wait, I went on Saturday afternoon to the dermatologist’s office, but I could not get a checkup immediately. I sat in the waiting room for four hours, where I started observing my surroundings. There were women whose skin was disfigured and oozing fluids among young and old in the reception area. The severity of their ailments did not allow them to wear face masks so I could see their wounds.

It seemed that these young ladies knew each other and greeted one another warmly as they looked for vacant seats at the hospital reception. One of them took the seat beside me and greeted me. She asked me why I came to the dermatologist’s office. I explained that it was the deep redness on my skin. She let me finish and told me I was lucky.

After a deep breath, she started explaining her ailment, struggling to hold her tears and emotions. She said she used a complexion brightening cream she bought on one of the local Facebook online shops. It was not as expensive as the branded ones and promised incredible results. The seller explained using instructions, affirming her skin would get smooth and get a new shining glow. It was easy for her to buy it with one phone order and payment upon delivery. The product was brought to her doorstep with information that there is ample supply for her future need. It only took five applications to destroy her skin. The product was a bleaching cream, as she later found out from the doctor.

The result she got from applying the cream was not the flawless, bright shiny glow the cream’s packaging displayed but left her with a burning and oozing facial skin. The dermatologist told her that the ingredients on the cream she applied are internationally banned chemicals due to carcinogenic risks. She also said she no longer goes out in the sun to reduce her risk of skin cancer as the epidermis layer is damaged. The cream caused her physical, emotional and now financial damage as she is desperately trying to fix it. I listened to her in great disbelief and sadness.

She was not the only person in the room who had their faces injured by products bought from suppliers that promised all types of benefits. Some are impacted by the makeup they purchased in Mercato, one of Africa's largest marketplaces, and Telegram online shopping channels.

I tried to comfort her by saying she would be better soon. She looked at me in silence and pulled out her phone from her bag to show me a portrait photo before she started experimenting with creams. Her skin used to look gorgeous.

My stay at the doctor's office was saddening but meeting the senior doctor lightened things up. I was happy to know the ladies would be encouraged and treated kindly by the caring doctor.

On my way home, I searched social media markets. There were indeed bleaching creams being marketed and sold on social media. There was also a herbal imported tea heavily marketed on social media displaying slim local women. Although the ingredients on the tea seemed harmless, doctors I have asked about it told me it interacts with our kidney enzymes to create stones and chronic gastric ulcers and other stomach complications when it is consumed regularly.

Doctors say that they have patients come to their office for kidney stones, ulcers and inability to retain food due to a weight loss tea sold to patients online. Healthy buyers end up on a surgical table to remove kidney stones and leave with permanent stomach problems for something they thought was a miraculous belly-fat melting ingredient.

The growing online market makes our lives a lot easier. The ability to compare prices and view products closer to our fingertips is what we need. But protecting oneself from scams and thinking twice before purchasing edible and skincare products can save us headaches and pain.

We have to train ourselves before buying. After all, taking responsibility for our health starts with us. As we journey through the growing online market in Ethiopia, taking precautions on marketed items will allow us to transition to genuine sellers who care about their customers and business reputation.

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PUBLISHED ON Dec 25,2021 [ VOL 22 , NO 1130]

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