Increasing awareness about skin-lightening practices and their risks in communities.
Official title: Expanding the Public Awareness of Skin-lightening Practices and Chemical Exposure and Creating a Framework that Advances the Wellbeing of Impacted Communities
Funded at The Beautywell Project · NIH-11045566 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | The Beautywell Project NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Paul, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $248,709 |
| NIH project number | 1U01FD008269-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11045566 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this initiative are individuals from immigrant communities of color who use or are at risk of using skin-lightening products.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not engage in skin-lightening practices or are not part of the targeted immigrant communities may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
The Beautywell Project
Saint Paul, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adawe, Amira — The Beautywell Project
- Study coordinator: Adawe, Amira
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.