Health Minister Warns Against Using Bleaching Creams
By: , September 11, 2019The Key Point:
Photo: Dave Reid
Amputee and Dancer, Recycled Teenagers, Ms. Claire Reid, dances with Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (second left), during the launch of Caribbean Wellness Day 2019 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, on Tuesday (September 10). Other members of the Recycled Teenagers group observe with delight.
Photo: Dave Reid
Members of the Recycled Teenagers group, who are all between 65 and 90 years of age, participate in the launch of Caribbean Wellness Day 2019, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on Tuesday (September 10).
Photo: Dave Reid
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (centre); Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson (right) and Representative, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Dr. Theodore Burnadette Grandi, unveil new Physical Activity Booklets from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, on Tuesday (September 10), at the launch of Caribbean Wellness Day 2019 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel.The Facts
- The Minister was speaking at the launch of Caribbean Wellness Day 2019, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on Tuesday (September 10).
- He also called on persons who are aging to focus on eating healthy and exercising, rather than using quick formulas to look younger, as the creams oftentimes have long- term side-effects that impact the health of the users.
The Full Story
As the region prepares to celebrate Caribbean Wellness Day on Saturday (September 14), Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has reiterated calls for persons to desist from using bleaching creams as anti-aging formulas.
The Minister was speaking at the launch of Caribbean Wellness Day 2019, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on Tuesday (September 10).
He also called on persons who are aging to focus on eating healthy and exercising, rather than using quick formulas to look younger, as the creams oftentimes have long- term side-effects that impact the health of the users.
“I am saying to the population, bleaching cream is unhealthy. It’s not going to make you look better and enjoy longevity of life. It won’t solve the aging issue,” Dr. Tufton said.
“Bleaching cream and plastic surgery cannot deal with aging… I think the world has become enticed, whether through marketing efforts, anecdotal evidence, our own personal hopes and aspirations, that there’s a quick fix to everything that we do, and can be enticed with measures for self-preservation that give a very short-term hope and ultimately leads to dismay and disaster,” he added.
Dr. Tufton said there are some fundamental underpinning (set of ideas and motives) of healthy aging, driven by science and research, with best practices that include living a lifestyle that moderates consumption habits with activities each day, which he is encouraging Jamaicans to consider, instead of bleaching their skin.
“The real solution lies in how we treat with ourselves and how we take responsibility for caring for ourselves and, indeed, beyond that, planning for the future… We need to see aging as an opportunity, not as a threat,” he said.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, along with its stakeholders, will be hosting numerous activities in recognition of Caribbean Wellness Day 2019.
Some of these activities include health expos and health fairs. One major activity promoting healthy lifestyles, which will take place in Jamaica on Caribbean Wellness Day, is the Colour Me Happy Run at Hope Gardens in St. Andrew, which is endorsed by Jamaica Moves.