title: [Complications of cosmetic skin bleaching in Africa].
abstract: Use of cosmetic products to bleach or lighten the skin is common among dark-skinned women in some sub-Saharan African countries. Long-term use of some pharmacologic compounds (e.g. hydroquinone, glucocorticoids and mercury) can cause adverse effects including dermatologic disorders such as dyschromia, exogenous ochronosis, acne and hypertrichosis, prominent striae, tinea corporis, pyoderma, erysipelas, scabies, and contact dermatitis and systemic complications such as hypertension, hypercorticism or surrenal deficiency, and mercurial nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Service de dermatologie, HIA Laveran, Marseille, France. morandjj@aol.com
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Morand
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ly
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lightburn
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahé
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D044383:Black People; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006873:Hydroquinones / Q000009:adverse effects; D008628:Mercury / Q000009:adverse effects; D012459:Salicylates / Q000009:adverse effects; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006873:Hydroquinones; D012459:Salicylates; D008628:Mercury; C031927:hydroquinone