Research Article

Preliminary Study on the Skin Lightening Practice and Health Symptoms among Female Students in Malaysia

Table 4

Respondents knowledge and perception ().

Variables Undergraduate ()
(%)
Postgraduate ()
(%)
Total ()
(%)

Knowing that skin lightening products might cause health effect
 Yes53 (94.6)44 (91.6)97 (93.3)
 No3 (5.4)4 (8.4)7 (6.7)
Knowing ingredients banned from skin lightening products
 Yes 35 (62.5)28 (58.3)63 (60.6)
 No 21 (37.5)20 (41.7)41 (39.4)
Way to obtain information about the safety of skin lightening products
 Television and radio17 (30.4)14 (29.2)31 (29.8)
 Internet and SNS47 (83.9)45 (93.8)92 (88.5)
 Book, newspaper, and magazine31 (57.1)29 (60.4)60 (57.7)
 Friend23 (41.1)21 (43.8)44 (42.3)
Perception of having lighter skin
 Lighter skin is more beautiful and looks healthier28 (50)26 (54.1)54 (51.9)
 Lighter skin provides higher self-esteem28 (50)28 (58.3)56 (53.8)
 Lighter skin implies belonging to higher social class3 (5.4)3 (6.3)6 (5.8)
 Lighter skin helps in getting better job2 (3.6)2 (4.2)4 (3.8)
 Lighter skin increases chance of getting married5 (8.9)2 (4.2)7 (6.7)
 Men consider woman with lighter skin to be more beautiful18 (32.1)16 (33.3)34 (32.7)
 Do not have any perception14 (25)13 (27.1)27 (26)