title: The practice of skin-bleaching for a cosmetic purpose in immigrant communities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using skin-lightening compounds for a cosmetic purpose that are normally restricted to medical use or forbidden has become a world-wide practice. Complications are numerous. Immigrant communities often import their practice from their original country.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the literature on the subject of complications of cosmetic skin-bleaching, with special focus on data concerning immigrants originating from highly endemic countries, was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complications of cosmetic skin-bleaching are common, involving mainly the skin although some general complications are also reported with a growing incidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high frequency of this practice, added to the frequency of various complications, suggests it might be considered as a genuine public health problem currently.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hôpital Pasteur, Colmar, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahé
mesh_terms: D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000139:chemically induced; D057886:Bleaching Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009794:Ochronosis / Q000139:chemically induced; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D057886:Bleaching Agents; D003358:Cosmetics