Lipstick-free campuses: Kerala Child Welfare Committee to curb makeup use among students

Kollam (Kerala): The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has launched an extensive awareness campaign against the hazardous use of cosmetics among school children. This initiative follows previous Health Department reports warning that toxic heavy metals found in common beauty products can lead to bowel cancer in children.

Cosmetics such as lipsticks, eyeliners, eyeshadows, blushers and face creams frequently contain harmful elements like mercury and cadmium. Accumulation of these heavy metals can cause severe damage not only to young skin but also to vital internal organs.

Alarming rise in bowel cancer

According to the Kollam District Child Welfare Committee, the campaign was prompted by a study from the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram. The research highlighted a recent surge in bowel cancer cases among children in the Kollam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode districts. The official launch of the campaign took place at Mayyanad Higher Secondary School in Kollam, inaugurated by renowned poet Kureepuzha Sreekumar.

Teachers have observed that many students bring makeup, including lipsticks, to school and apply it during class breaks. Because children have thinner and more sensitive skin than adults, their bodies absorb these chemical substances at a much faster rate. This overexposure can trigger severe allergies, hormonal imbalances, developmental issues and an increased risk of cancer.

Towards 'lipstick-free campuses'

The primary objective of the initiative is to eliminate cosmetics from schools entirely by educating students on the associated health risks. Schools that successfully complete these awareness sessions, conducted by medical experts, will officially be declared 'lipstick-free campuses'.

Following the student sessions, the programme will extend awareness classes to parents. The CWC also plans to expand these educational workshops beyond schools to residents' associations, Kudumbashree self-help groups, and various community organisations.

The urgency of the campaign is underscored by findings from last year, when the State Drugs Control Department seized lipsticks and face creams containing mercury levels well above permissible limits. These toxic cosmetics are often readily available at shops located near school premises. D Shine Dev, secretary of the Kollam District Child Welfare Committee, stated that the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has already submitted a report recommending inspections of these shops and advocating for the nationwide expansion of this awareness campaign.