Authorities, Zimbabwe Republic Police and health officials have begun a crackdown on makeshift beauty and wellness centres in Zimbabwe that provide products for skin lightening and buttock augmentation outside authorized facilities, which can be simply referred to as yellow bone scams.
The widespread use of bleaching creams over the past two decades has reached alarming levels, prompting authorities to take action.
“Yellow bone” is a term used to describe individuals with significantly lighter than their natural skin tone”.
Some women’s skin tones have dramatically changed from their natural colour to yellow due to the use of these products
Women who use skin-lightening products risk absorbing dangerous substances into their bloodstream, leading to long-term complications.
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Skin lightening products
It is understood that some of these products are smuggled through the Nyamapanda border post and other points of entry into the country.
The Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe (HPA) started an action against beauty and wellness centers that provide medical services outside of their approved scope.
Spas and beauty parlours have begun marketing “wellness” services, such as IV drips and injections, in recent years, frequently without the required authorization or medical oversight. These businesses have drawn customers looking for everything from weight loss programs to intravenous vitamin therapy.
The HPA issued a press release stating their concern about beauty and wellness facilities offering services beyond their scope, such as intravenous drips and infusions, which non-medical professionals administer.
This practice seriously threatens public health and violates the Health Professions Act.
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Recently, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) conducted a raid in Mbare after receiving a tip-off that a group of individuals were manufacturing fake products and imitating Medtech products, putting the health of victims who purchased from them at risk.
