Black and Multicultural Skin Care
Although there are some unique concerns when it comes to ethnic and black skin, there are treatment options and skin care products available to help women and men of any shade to have beautiful skin. Following a good daily skin care regimen and visiting an esthetician to address any concerns can help you create and maintain radiant skin.
The Challenges of Black Skin Care
Many men and women of color face challenges with their skincare that are unique to ethnic skin. Some of the most common skin care problems when it comes to black skin include acne, ingrown hairs, and hyperpigmentation.
Acne
While anyone can suffer from bouts of acne, which is caused by excess production of oil from sebaceous glands, black skin is more likely to develop long lasting skin discoloration. A combination of many factors can contribute to the appearance of acne, including heredity. Although there are many treatments for acne, ranging from over-the-counter creams to prescription antibiotics, it is best to have your skin evaluated by an esthetician who understands the unique challenges in ethnic skin. Many common acne medications have unwanted side effects that can be especially problematic for dark skin tones. For example, the oral antibiotic Minocycline, sometimes used to treat acne, has a potential side effect of darkening the skin or causing changes in skin color.
Ingrown Hairs
Many ethnic skin tones have naturally curly hair shafts, and after shaving, whether it’s facial hair for men or regular body hair for women, oftentimes the hair will curl back into the skin and pierce the wall of the hair follicle, which can cause ingrown hairs (medically known as pseudofolliculitis barbae). Since this typically occurs after shaving, a good esthetician can share proper shaving techniques and recommend products to be used during shaving to assist with unwanted ingrown hairs.
Hyperpigmentation
Skin discolorations are a common issue for darker skinned individuals. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is one of the biggest culprits in black skin discoloration. This occurs when the skin becomes inflamed as the result of an injury to the skin, including acne, sunburn, scratches, surgery, rashes, or cosmetic procedures. After a scar heals, the area may remain darker and can take months or even years to fade. Treatments for this condition include lightening creams, topical treatments containing glycolic or other acids, chemical peels, and microdermabrasian.
Basic Skin Care for Dark Skin Tones
There are three things you should do regardless of your skin tone and type: cleanse, moisturize, and wear sunscreen.
Cleanse
Choose a cleanser that will remove makeup, oil, and dirt without stripping your skin. Oil-based removers are perfect for dry skin and others have acne-fighting ingredients built in. If you choose a cleanser with an ingredient like salicylic acid to fight and prevent blemishes, be sure you’re not doubling up with similar ingredients in your moisturizer. The combined effect could be too harsh for your skin.
Moisturize
Those with oily, acne-prone skin sometimes choose to skip moisturizer. Choose a light one instead, and look for one with ingredients designed to control oil or prevent and treat acne. If you skip moisturizer, that can make your skin feel as if it’s too dry, causing it to produce even more oil as protection. Applying moisturizer ahead of time will give you a bit more control.
Use Sunscreen
Sunscreen is important for any skin tone. Though dark skin won’t burn as quickly in the sun as fair skin tones, skin cancer is still a threat no matter what. UV rays can also cause premature aging even if you’re not burning when you go out in the sun. Apply at least an SPF 15 daily if you don’t plan to spend more than a few minutes here and there in the sun. For longer periods of time in the sun, apply at least SPF 30 and reapply every two hours.
Skin Care Products
There are millions of skin products on the market to choose from and finding ones that work can sometimes seem like a matter of trial and error. Professionally licensed estheticians with advanced training in skin analysis and cosmetic chemistry (ingredients) can help assist you in finding treatments and products that will address the unique needs of ethnic skin:
♦ Maximize the reduction of dark spots, discolorations and uneven tones with skin lighteners known to breakdown residual pigment deposits on the skin
♦ Effectively reduces breakouts by purifying, exfoliating and removing excess oil from the skin while fading away unwanted dark spots.
♦ Diminish the appearance of unsightly razor bumps and ingrown hairs
Caring for Your Skin
Good preventative skin care can help keep skin looking even and beautiful. Following a good basic skin care routine and addressing any concerns with an esthetician can help you to obtain and maintain healthy, beautiful skin.
Face Fitness Skin Care specializes in science-based aesthetics with a focus on Advanced Skin Analysis and Cosmetic Chemistry. Our passion is skin and our aim is to educate you on yours. We treat all skin types and conditions.
Professionally licensed in Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Massage Therapy with advanced certifications in Chemical Peeling, Microdermabrasion, and Oncology Esthetics, we have successfully performed 1000’s of procedures from acne and rosacea to pigmentation and aging.
We believe it’s essential to take the time to educate each and every client; to develop a relationship based on trust and in-depth information. We will explain your individual needs to have healthy, transformed, beautiful skin. We work with clients to develop long-term strategies for achieving and maintaining optimal skin health.
It’s important to understand the causes and exacerbators of skin conditions and work preventatively rather than reactively in regards to long-term skin health. Gone are the days of only addressing symptoms–the future of skin care lies in looking at the underlying causes and developing a comprehensive, yet holistic, treatment plan to ensure healthy skin for life. Together, we can make your skin beautiful!
For a consultation to help you determine the right products for your unique skin care needs, please call us at 716.631.0964 or Click Here now to schedule a consultation or facial treatment.