Causal Explanations and Risk-Taking Associated with Voluntary Skin Depigmentation in Cameroon

For individuals, conforming to beauty standards sometimes requires body transformations such as voluntary skin depigmentation. Skin depigmentation is a growing phenomenon in society. The reasons given in the literature vary from country to country. The health, economic and social consequences have been reported in the literature. Although the harmfulness of this practice is well known, people continue to use it, even though they are sometimes well informed and aware of it, despite the fact that it is a behaviour that is considered risky for their health. To understand this risky behaviour, individuals put forward reasons that may explain it, thus providing a means of analysis. This study uses the semi-directive interview method. It is made up of men and women aged between 18 and 50 from the town of Foumbot, recruited using purposive sampling. The study shows that the reasons given for this practice are either internal or external to the individual. The results show that most of the respondents have a good knowledge of voluntary skin depigmentation and the meaning they give to it. This study shows that depigmentation is not only practised by women, even men use lightening products. Individuals would therefore do well to accept themselves as they are (self-acceptance), as this practice has health, economic and social consequences.