title: Depigmenting procedures and drugs employed by melanoderm populations.
abstract: The "fashion" of lightening the skin represents a very serious problem because it involves the melanoderm populations, not only in Africa, but in the world, undermining their physical integrity and psychological equilibrium. The diffusion of the skin-whitening practice is much more intense in the areas where there are inter-relations between Blacks and Whites. Among the drugs used, mercury prevails under the form of biioduro salts in aseptic soaps; hydroquinone taken in form of per os pills, and cortisoides. The resource of using traditional skin-bleaching plants seems frequent, but the information we tried to gather from informants has been very scarce.
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000569:Americas; D001208:Asia; D044383:Black People; D003358:Cosmetics; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D006801:Humans; D008542:Melanesia; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics