Islamabad, Pakistan - November 9, 2007 - Actress Maneesha Naghshineh in a recent interview publicly admitted that she has been using "SW+SS" skin whitening products to get over the preconceptions that were acting as an impediment to her career advancement.

"In Pakistan, the darker your skin, the lower your perceived status and caste" she said.

When she was first launching her career as an actress, she quickly realised that fair skin sells more that dark skin. The producers and directors are always selecting the light skinned actors and actresses over their dark skinned peers.

Skin whitening industry in Asian and African countries is booming, with a plethora of skin whitening products to select from.

Skin whitening in Asia has its origins in China and Japan, where white complexion was seen as noble and aristocratic. Those rich enough could afford to stay indoors, while peasants that had to work outdoors got a dark complexion. In Africa can be traced back to the time of the African slave trade. Light-skinned slaves were usually given preferential treatment compared to their dark-skinned peers.

Studies have shown that African American men prefer light-skinned partners. Similar studies have also shown a clear link between light skin and better economic and social status.

Manufacturers of "SW+SS" skin whitening products have released figures from a recent research showing that sales of skin whitening products worldwide have doubled during the past years due to the increase of safe skin whitening products, like l glutathione based skin whitening soaps and creams.

With the advent of safe skin whitening products in the market, maybe the future is bright after all.

About the Author

David Akemaning is the author of the best selling book "Equality and Diversity Past and Present"