[Artificial skin depigmentation complications in Nouakchott, Mauritania]

In order to study the complications of artificial depigmentation (AD) in Mauritania, we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among women in the Dermatology Department of Nouakchott national hospital from July to September 2012. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of complications of AD. Of the 394 patients who consulted during the study period, we identified 164 users of depigmentation products. The average age of users of AD is 30.38 years, ranging from 13 to 70 years. The levels of study are most represented 40.2% in the primary and secondary in 41.5%. The majority of users are of the white Moorish ethnic group (34.8%) followed by the Fulani ethnic group (26.8%). 56% of patients were married, 24% were single. 52% of married patients say their spouses disapprove of this practice. 49.4% of patients are undergo artificial depigmentation to be beautiful. 96.3% of these users had one or more complications. Complications noted during this study are dermatophytes (30.5%), superficial or deep folliculitis (7.9%), bacterial dermohipodermitis (erysipelas: 2.4%), exogenous ochronosis (26. 2%), black spots (83.5%). The women's main motivation is aesthetic (49.4%). Among users, 73.8% know the side effects without this discouraging this practice. Most often these side effects do not motivate a consultation and are well tolerated by patients who accept them as ransom AD. Despite the high prevalence of light-skinned subjects, in Mauritania artificial depigmentation remains a common practice.