Increasing awareness about skin-lightening practices and their risks in communities.

Expanding the Public Awareness of Skin-lightening Practices and Chemical Exposure and Creating a Framework that Advances the Wellbeing of Impacted Communities

NIH-funded research The Beautywell Project · NIH-11045566

This study is all about helping immigrant communities understand the risks of using skin-lightening products and harmful chemicals by sharing important information through trusted local leaders and media, so everyone can make safer choices for their health.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionThe Beautywell Project NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Saint Paul, United States)
Project IDNIH-11045566 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project aims to educate immigrant communities about the dangers of skin-lightening products and chemical exposures through culturally relevant information. It utilizes trusted community health workers, local media, and community leaders to disseminate messages that resonate with these populations. By focusing on community engagement and participatory approaches, the project seeks to enhance health literacy and empower ethnic media to effectively communicate public health information. The initiative will also train media leaders to ensure that the content is culturally appropriate and accessible.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this initiative are individuals from immigrant communities of color who use or are at risk of using skin-lightening products.

Not a fit: Patients who do not engage in skin-lightening practices or are not part of the targeted immigrant communities may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the health and wellbeing of communities affected by harmful skin-lightening practices.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative in its focus on ethnic media and community engagement, similar community-based health education initiatives have shown success in other public health areas.

Where this research is happening

Saint Paul, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.