Acne on Pigmented Skin: Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Features in Dermatology in Benin

Purpose: The aim of this work was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of pigmented skin acne in Benin. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional and analytical study conducted in the dermatology departments of the Borgou-Alibori Departmental Teaching Hospital and the National Teaching Hospital Hubert Koutoukou Maga from January 2017 to December 2018, which has included black-skinned patients who were diagnosed with acne and gave their free and informed consent. The ECLA score was used for clinical evaluation of the severity of the acne. Results: We collected 129 patients including 35 men and 94 women. The median age of the patient was 24.6 years ± 8.5 years. The median age of onset was 17.9 years ± 7.6 years. The main triggering of worsening factors was inadequate self-medication (53.5%), excoriation (48.1%), certain foods (34.9%) and lightening cosmetic (32.5%). Most patients had inflammatory (51.9%) or comedonal (31.8%) acne associated with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentations (70.5%) and excoriated lesions (31%). In the majority of cases, acne was moderate in women (52.1%) and severe in men (62.8%) with p = 9 × 10-3. The lesions were electively seated in the face (95.3%), mainly on the forehead and cheeks. Active cosmetics (76.7%), retinoids (58.9%), oral antibiotics (55.8%), and benzoyl peroxide (48.9%) were the most commonly used therapeutic classes. Conclusion: The majority of young and adult women consulted for predominant inflammatory acne on the forehead and cheeks, moderate in woman and severe in men in Benin. The therapeutic arsenal consisted mainly of active cosmetics, retinoids, antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide.

Anogenital Condyloma: Epidemiological, Clinical, Therapeutic and Evolutionary Aspects of 74 Cases in Benin

The aim of this study was to study the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutionary aspects of anogenital warts in Benin. A retrospective cohort study was conducted over a 4-year period from January 1st, 2013 to December 31st, 2016 at the Dermatology-Venerology Clinic of Cotonou. A total of 74 patients, including 67 men and middle aged 35.1 ± 10.3 years, were received for anogenital condyloma during the study period, accounting for 2.1% of the total and 28.2% of patients were received for sexually transmitted infection. The most common clinical form was acuminated condyloma (61 cases;82.4%). HIV serology was positive in 12 patients (16.2%). Therapeutically, the use of electrocoagulation was systematic in 80% of cases. The evolvement is noticeable when 37% of the cases were recidivated and the rate of loss of sight after the first consultation was 60.8%. Early diagnosis and improvement of the technical platform will help to improve the quality of care for these patients.

Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Skin Bleaching in Secondary School in Bohicon, Benin

Skin bleaching is a public health problem in West Africa most studied in general population. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to evaluate the prevalence of the phenomenon in secondary schools in central Benin. The prevalence of voluntary depigmentation (VD) was 36.6%. The sex ratio was 0.49. Gender was statistically associated with VD (p value < 0.000). Bleaching products used were often hydroquinone (42.2%), and corticosteroid (22.7%). The mean duration of the practice was 20 months. Products were applied over all body twice a day in most students. The main dermatological complications of the practice were discoloration (32.2%), stretch marks (20%), acne (18.5%), and fungal infections (13.1%). Parents funded and chose the bleaching products in most cases. This was the first survey conducted in secondary schools in West Africa targeted voluntary depigmentation. The high prevalence of the practice raises some questions, among them the core values of West African societies.