although lightning is an uncommon phenomenon in nature; it can cause many destructive incidents. in the event of a lightning strike, multiple organs particularly the cardiovascular systems are at risk of injury. short-term mortality depends on its cardiac effects. in this paper, the authors report the development of myocardial infarction and pericardial effusion after lightning injury, a typica...

Although lightning is an uncommon phenomenon in nature; it can cause many destructive incidents. In the event of a lightning strike, multiple organs particularly the cardiovascular systems are at risk of injury. Short-term mortality depends on its cardiac effects. In this paper, the authors report the development of myocardial infarction and pericardial effusion after lightning injury, a typica...

One additional skin lightening or whitening quasi-drug (QD) has been developed and officially approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan. The active ingredient niacinamide should be included in this review [1]. Its mechanism of skin lightening is based on the inhibition of melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes. Niacinamide is listed in Table 1, which classifi...

Skin-lightening agents such as kojic acid, arbutin, ellagic acid, lucinol and 5,5′-dipropylbiphenyl-2,2′-diol are used in ‘anti-ageing’ cosmetics. Cases of allergic contact dermatitis caused by these skin-lightening agents have been reported (1, 2). Vitamin C and its derivatives have also been used in cosmetics as skin-lightening agents for a long time. Vitamin C in topical agents is poorly abs...

Skin-lightening is an aesthetic practice of global concern. By adopting a biopsycho-social approach, we consider the interplay between the biological, psychological and social factors that underpin the circulation and consumption of skin lighteners in South Africa. This paper reflects on biological aspects of skin lightening, interpersonal relationships, individual beliefs and expectations abou...

Skin lightening among Eurasians is thought to have been a convergence occurring independently in Europe and East Asia as an adaptation to high latitude environments. Among Europeans, several genes responsible for such lightening have been found, but the information available for East Asians is much more limited. Here, a genome-wide comparison between dark-skinned Africans and Austro-Asiatic spe...