By Dennis Okechukwu
A 24-year-old Nigerian-born American, identified as Oluebube Madueke, is reportedly battling for her life at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) after suffering a severe facial reaction shortly after having her make-up done for a friend’s wedding in Lagos.
Madueke, a first-class honours graduate of Botany and Genomic Plant Biology from Oregon State University in the United States, had travelled to Lagos to serve as one of the bridesmaids at her childhood friend’s wedding.
According to an account circulating on social media, Madueke hired a make-up artiste ahead of the wedding ceremony in the Ikota area of Lagos.
The report alleged that within about 30 minutes of the make-up being applied, Madueke developed severe skin reactions on her face and neck.
Her condition reportedly deteriorated rapidly, with claims that she developed facial sepsis and was subsequently taken to LASUTH for treatment.
Photographs circulating alongside the account appear to show a dramatic difference between Madueke’s appearance before and after the reaction.
The account claimed that the make-up artiste who attended to her had become unreachable following the incident.
It also alleged that the artiste charged Madueke N20,000 for the service, although the circumstances surrounding the incident and the artiste’s whereabouts could not independently be established.
The report further claimed that Madueke was being treated for meningitis, pneumonia and a weakened heart.
However, these medical claims, as well as the exact cause of her condition, could not be independently verified from the material provided.
The incident has sparked concern over the safety and hygiene standards of make-up services, particularly the possible use of contaminated cosmetics, brushes, applicators or other products that could trigger severe allergic reactions or infections.
Meanwhile, claims that the incident was caused by a supposed spiritual “marking” through make-up, as contained in the circulating account, have not been supported by any medical or scientific evidence.
Health professionals would need to determine the actual cause of Madueke’s condition through clinical examination, laboratory investigations and other appropriate medical tests.
The incident has nevertheless renewed calls for people to exercise caution when patronising beauty and make-up services, including ensuring that cosmetics and applicators are clean, properly stored and not shared between clients.
It also highlights the importance of seeking immediate medical attention whenever a person develops sudden swelling, severe skin irritation, difficulty breathing, fever, facial infection or other unusual symptoms after using a cosmetic product.
As Madueke continues to receive treatment at LASUTH, concerns remain over the circumstances surrounding the incident and the need to establish what triggered the severe reaction.