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Ethnicity and Skin Care

Home > Articles > Ethnicity and Skin Care

Ethnicity and Skin Care
November 2009

The color of your skin impacts what problems people tend to perceive and the corresponding treatments are not "one color fits all". For instance, treating uneven dark spots with the wrong product can cause those unsightly brown patches to become worse. Read on...

Black skin
The issues: Rough skin; uneven tone, including raised, pigmented growths called dermatosis papulosa nigra.
What to avoid: Physical exfoliants, irritating skin-care ingredients (such as alcohol, propylene glycol, and lanolin), all of which can cause light and dark spots. IPL and laser treatments.
What to do: To smooth the skin, wash twice a day with a product containing 5 percent glycolic acid, such as DDF Glycolic Exfoliating Wash 5%. For superior results of an at-home professional peel, try Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads. For dark growths, see a dermatologist to have them professionally removed.

Latina, Middle Eastern, and South Asian skin, Brown/Olive undertone
The issues: Uneven Skin-tone, melasma.
What to avoid: Above all, sun exposure. Those with dark skin should skip grainy exfoliants, which can create dark spots. And steer clear of IPL and most laser treatments which frequently make melasma worse.
What to do: Prevent melasma by wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every single day. Try Obagi Medical C-Rx Sunguard SPF 30 which contains Vitamin C for added lightening benefits. To fade existing discoloration, wash daily with an Alpha Hydroxy Cleanser, such as Dermalogica ChromaWhite TRx Tri-Active Cleanse, and apply a 2 percent hydroquinone cream at night. Or try Obagi Medical C-Clarifying Serum which combines the brightening and lightening benefits of Hydroquinone with the powerful results of the antioxidant Professional-C Serum 10%.

White Skin
The issues: Premature wrinkles, dehydration, large pore size, broken capillaries.
What to avoid: Sun Exposure causes free-radicals to attack healthy collagen and elastin causing premature wrinkles, sun spots and sagging skin. Avoid harsh facial scrubs and picking pimples/bumps which lead to broken capillaries.
What to do: Glymed Plus Treatment Cream contains 15% Glycolic Acid to reduce wrinkles depth, firm and tone the skin, and stimulate new collagen and elastin growth. For large pores try Eminence Blackberry Pore Refining Serum which tightens and refines pores while hydrating cells with non-oily moisture. DDF's Nutrient K Plus assists in reducing the appearance of broken capillaries and strengthens damaged skin with the use of Vitamin K and Horse Chestnut.

East Asian skin, Yellow/Light Brown Undertone
The issues: Sun spots, raised brown patches with a bumpy texture, called seborrehic keratosis.
What to avoid: East Asian skin tends to be sensitive, so beware of products containing glycolic or lactic acid and be sure to test on a small area under your chin - these can cause redness and can even increase melanin production, leading to dark patches.
What to do: Dermatologists recommend using a retinol cream to diminish and prevent lines and wrinkles. Try GM Collin Retinol Advanced every other day until you know your skin can tolerate it. For dark spots, use the Janssen 2-Phase Visible Fading Out System which contains Kojic Acid, Mulberry Extract, Arbutin, and Licorice which work together to inhibit new melanin production while lightening existing uneven pigmentation. Scaly patches must be removed by a professional.