Cutaneous complications of artificial skin depigmentation in Bukavu (Democratic Republic of Congo)

Introduction: Skin complications from artificial skin depigmentation were described many years ago ,but their frequency was under-estimated because women hardly admitted this practice and it was sometimes difficult to assert the link between dermatosis and depigmentation. Thus, we propose to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with skin complications of artificial skin depigmentation in Bukavu (DRC). Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study over a 6-month period from January 1 to June 30, 2022. It concerned patients who had consulted the dermatology departments of the Bukavu University Clinics or the Saint-Luc Bukavu Clinic for one or more skin complications related to artificial skin depigmentation. Data were captured and analyzed using SPSS 20 and Epi info3.5.3. Results: The hospital prevalence of cutaneous complications among users of skin bleaching products was 91.8%. The average age of the patients was 31±8 years; with extremes ranging from 10 to 67 years. Women were in the majority (97.4%). The most commonly used active ingredients were alpha-hydroxy-acids (25.6%), corticoids (19.2%), and glutathion (9.0%). There was a statistically significant difference between the active ingredients used and the patients' area of residence (P= 0.003). Alpha-hydroxy-acids and glutathione were mainly used by patients living in urban areas. The skin complications that motivated the consultation of most of our patients were of an infectious nature, namely dermatophyte of the glabrous skin (34.6%) and disseminated scabies (29.5%). Conclusion: cosmetic skin bleaching is a common practice in our community. However, it is not without risks because it is a source of skin complications that are often serious