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1313123 
Journal Article 
Review 
[Complications of cosmetic skin bleaching in Africa] 
Morand, JJ; Ly, F; Lightburn, E; Mahé, A 
2007 
1 
Medecine Tropicale
ISSN: 0025-682X 
67 
6 
627-634 
fre 
18300529 
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.