[Acne in adult female patients: A comparative study in France and sub-Saharan Africa].
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of acne in adult women in France and in sub-Saharan Africa.


METHODS
Women aged 25 years and over consulting for acne in hospital dermatology departments in Créteil, Dakar and Bamako were included. The data collected concerned a health questionnaire, previous history of acne, clinical examination and use of skin lighteners. Patient characteristics were expressed as absolute numbers and percentages for qualitative variables and as means and standard deviations or medians, and first and third quartiles, for quantitative variables based on distribution.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of body mass index, tobacco smoking, age at first period and use of contraceptives. The presence of a lozenge-shaped area of abdominal hyperpilosity was more common in women of dark phototype, with no other signs of hyperandrogenism being seen. Acne was more severe in Dakar and in Bamako than in Créteil. Post-inflammatory pigmentation and involvement of the cheeks and forehead occurred significantly more frequently in patients of dark phototype. Involvement of the chin was more common in light-skinned subjects. While none of the women not of African origin performed voluntary skin lightening, this practice was recorded in half of women of African origin in Créteil and in Africa.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows clinical differences in acne in adult women according to phototype and geographical zone.
Service de dermatologie, hôpital Henri-Mondor, 51, avenue du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 75006 Créteil, France. Electronic address: florence.poli@wanadoo.fr.
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Poli
Centre national d'appui à la lutte contre la maladie (ex institut Marchoux), Bamako, Mali.
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Faye
EPS institut d'hygiène sociale, Dakar, Sénégal.
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LIC EA4393, service de santé publique et URC, hôpital Henri-Mondor, université Paris Est Créteil, 51, avenue du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 94100 Créteil, France.
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Le Thuaut
D000152:Acne Vulgaris / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D017668:Age of Onset; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D062306:Geography, Medical; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations
Acne; Acné; Adult; Adulte; Afrique sub-saharienne; Dépigmentation volontaire; Female; Femme; Skin lightening; Sub-Saharan Africa