Skin-lightening Practices and Chemical Exposures in the Immigrant and Refugee Communities

Amira Adawe is a Manager at Minnesota Children’s Cabinet Office of Governor Mark Dayton, where she works on early childhood policies and systems using an equity lens. Amira previously worked at the Minnesota Department of Health as a Legislative Liaison and Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health as a Planner, health educator and community engagement coordinator of Family Health and Community Engagement Division. She is the Founder and Director of the Beautywell Project, a campaign to combat the skin-lightening practices and chemical exposures in the immigrant and refugee communities in Minnesota and Nationwide. Amira is the host of weekly radio show (Beauty-Wellness Talk) at KALY Radio. She has an undergraduate degree in Family Social Science from University of Minnesota and Master of Public Health from University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She was also a Policy Fellow 2015-2016 at Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. 

Women often use creams and soaps to lighten skin tone, fade freckles or get rid of age spots. Use of these products raises a health concern, as most of them have been found to contain mercury and other toxic chemicals. Many women use them during pregnancy and breastfeeding, which affects the health of their offspring. The Beautywell Project aims to combat the skin-lightening practices and chemical exposures by educating the communities about the health affects, changing the cultural norms and redefining beauty.