{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T21:31:59Z","timestamp":1790890319632,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2007,11,1]],"date-time":"2007-11-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1193875200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["J Cutan Med Surg"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Scarification involves cutting or making an incision into the skin and then allowing the wound to heal, leaving a permanent scar. The purpose of this article is to examine the origins of scarification and its social and medical significance in sub-Saharan Africa.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We conducted a computerized search in the MEDLINE electronic database with combinations of the following terms: scarification, tribal marks, keloid, hypertrophic scar, Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Inclusion criteria were studies published in English involving human participants. We reviewed the bibliography of each article that met our inclusion criteria for additional relevant studies. We abstracted data on the historical, social, and medical aspects of scarification from eligible studies.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This review of scarification in sub-Saharan Africa highlights the complex interplay that exists between biology and society. Photographs, artwork, and literary descriptions reveal that scarification results in hypertrophic or atrophic scars, although these types of scars are often mistakenly referred to as keloids. In terms of the procedural aspects of scarification, specific tools and substances were consistently used by various ethnic groups. Although much is known about the history of scarification as a form of identification in Africa, it appears that the practice also had medical applications. Scarification was used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, although it was also known to exacerbate conditions such as sarcoidosis, lichen planus, and psoriasis. Evolving cultural beliefs, in addition to the association of scarification with an increased risk of contracting hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are contemporary threats to this long-standing practice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Given the remarkably consistent appearance of scars that are described in the literature and depicted in images, scarification does not appear to be a random or accidental occurrence. Instead, it is a deliberate attempt to reproduce a custom that has been perfected after many years of practice in sub-Saharan Africa.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2310\/7750.2007.00026","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2015,3,11]],"date-time":"2015-03-11T15:01:24Z","timestamp":1426086084000},"page":"217-221","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Observations on the Procedural Aspects and Health Effects of Scarification in Sub-Saharan Africa"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Olubimpe A.","family":"Ayeni","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"From the Department of Plastic Surgery, McMaster Medical Centre, Hamilton, ON; Department of Public Health, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON; and Department of Dermatology, Health Sciences Centre, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Olubukunola O.","family":"Ayeni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"From the Department of Plastic Surgery, McMaster Medical Centre, Hamilton, ON; Department of Public Health, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON; and Department of Dermatology, Health Sciences Centre, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Robert","family":"Jackson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"From the Department of Plastic Surgery, McMaster Medical Centre, Hamilton, ON; Department of Public Health, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON; and Department of Dermatology, Health Sciences Centre, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2007,11,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-7750.2007.00026","volume-title":"Return of the tribal: a celebration of body adornment: piercing, tattooing, scarification, body painting","author":"Camphausen R","year":"1998"},{"key":"bibr2-7750.2007.00026","first-page":"96","volume-title":"Marks of civilization: artistic transformations of the human body","author":"Drewal HJ","year":"1988"},{"key":"bibr3-7750.2007.00026","unstructured":"Rubin A, editor. Marks of civilization: artistic transformations of the human body. Los Angeles: University of California, Museum of Cultural History; 1988. p. 14."},{"key":"bibr4-7750.2007.00026","volume-title":"History of the Yoruba","author":"Johnson S","year":"1921"},{"issue":"4","key":"bibr5-7750.2007.00026","first-page":"373","volume":"129","author":"Niamba PA","year":"2002","journal-title":"Ann Dermatol Venereol"},{"key":"bibr6-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1207\/S15327884MCA1001_05"},{"issue":"4","key":"bibr7-7750.2007.00026","first-page":"46","volume":"32","author":"Austin E","year":"1999","journal-title":"Psychol Today"},{"key":"bibr8-7750.2007.00026","first-page":"106","volume":"81","author":"De Negri E","year":"1964","journal-title":"Nigeria Magazine"},{"key":"bibr9-7750.2007.00026","first-page":"251","volume":"93","author":"Grunitzky EK","year":"2000","journal-title":"Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales"},{"key":"bibr10-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/01.prs.0000222562.60260.f9"},{"key":"bibr11-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/01.sap.0000164538.72375.93"},{"key":"bibr12-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00006534-199910000-00031"},{"key":"bibr13-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/archderm.137.11.1429"},{"key":"bibr14-7750.2007.00026","first-page":"511","volume":"65","author":"Bloom D","year":"1956","journal-title":"N Y State Med J"},{"key":"bibr15-7750.2007.00026","first-page":"428","volume":"67","author":"Omo-Dare P","year":"1976","journal-title":"J Natl Med Assoc"},{"key":"bibr16-7750.2007.00026","volume-title":"Clinical dermatology","author":"MacKie RM","year":"1996"},{"key":"bibr17-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4612-2614-7_13"},{"key":"bibr18-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-4362.1989.tb01305.x"},{"key":"bibr19-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0190-9622(89)70334-0"},{"key":"bibr20-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/gut.38.Suppl_2.S5"},{"key":"bibr21-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.79.7.893"},{"key":"bibr22-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/00126334-199109000-00014"},{"key":"bibr23-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/004947550103100332"},{"key":"bibr24-7750.2007.00026","unstructured":"University of Iowa Health Care Medical Museum. Body alterations. Exhibits throughout the hospital. Available at: http:\/\/www.uihealthcare.com\/depts\/medmuseum\/wallexhibits\/body\/bodyalterations\/bodyalterations.html (accessed September 3, 2006)."},{"key":"bibr25-7750.2007.00026","unstructured":"Potts V. Scarification: Ancient body art leaving new marks. In: Guynup S, editor. National Geographic News. Available at: http:\/\/news.nationalgeographic.com\/news\/2004\/07\/0728_040728_tvtabooscars_2.html (accessed January 27, 2007)."},{"key":"bibr26-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/07481180600553419"},{"key":"bibr27-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1542\/peds.109.6.1021"},{"key":"bibr28-7750.2007.00026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S1054-139X(02)00446-9"}],"container-title":["Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.2310\/7750.2007.00026","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.2310\/7750.2007.00026","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.2310\/7750.2007.00026","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,28]],"date-time":"2026-04-28T15:48:02Z","timestamp":1777391282000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.2310\/7750.2007.00026"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2007,11]]},"references-count":28,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2007,11]]}},"alternative-id":["10.2310\/7750.2007.00026"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2310\/7750.2007.00026","relation":{},"ISSN":["1203-4754","1615-7109"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1203-4754","type":"print"},{"value":"1615-7109","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2007,11]]}}}