New research is proving that the secret to an amazing complexion may be linked to your ethnic background. Certainly there are many factors that affect your skin: the season, the weather, your hormones, your diet and your cleansing routine are the most common. However, one factor that isn't discussed much is your ethnicity. At a recent American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting, several research dermatologists spoke about the role ethnicity plays in the overall condition of your skin. This three – part article will discuss insights from this meeting to help you score a perfect complexion based on your specific skin type. Here are the facts about dark skin tones.
Dark Skin
Dark skin tones range from mocha to ebony and typically are found among African-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and women from India, Sri Lanka, and other areas of South Asia.
Characteristics
If you fall among the dark skin category the good news is your skin is best-protected against UV damage. While this makes you very lucky it doesn't mean you can skip applying sunscreen all together, UV protection is critical no matter how dark your skin is. The extra pigment in your skin also provides quite a bit of camouflage, hiding any redness and even cellulite. On the flipside however, hyperpigmentation can become an issue and acne scars can be particularly problematic.
Skin Care
Take a stand against acne scars by using anti-acne cleansing products twice daily to help treat, clear and prevent breakouts. Use morning and night to help maintain consistently clear, healthy skin. Begin with Dermalogica's Clearing Skin Wash, a breakout clearing foam cleanser that clears oils and bacteria on acne-prone skin while sloughing off impurities and dead skin cells with Salicylic Acid, a beta hydroxy acid that stimulates natural exfoliation to help clear clogged follicles and prevent future breakouts. Next, apply Dermalogica's Concealing Spot Treatment, a tinted spot treatment ideal for daytime coverage of breakouts. Follow with Dermalogica's Oil Control Lotion, an oil-absorbing hydrator with Salicylic acid to clear congested follicles while moisturizing and reducing shine. At night apply Dermalogica's Overnight Clearing Gel, a clearing, purifying nighttime gel moisturizer that helps clear skin and prevent future breakouts. Smooth this over your skin after cleansing at night to allow the Salicylic Acid to slough off pore-clogging skin cells and the naturally-antiseptic Tea Tree Oil to soothe your delicate skin while you sleep.
Common Issues
Keeping your body's skin clear of ashy patches (dry skin) is a challenge for people with dark skin tones. Applying rich lotions and creams such as Dermalogica's Ultra Rich Body Cream and exfoliating daily with Dermalogica's Exfoliating Body Scrub is essential. Also, stick with gentle body cleansers such as Dermalogica's Conditioning Body Wash versus drying body washes. Keeping a humidifier on inside your home or office is also an ideal way to keep your skin hydrated. You may also be prone to ingrown hairs. Since people with dark skin tend to have curved follicles and coarse hair the hair has a hard time breaking through the skin's surface. Tend Skin is a great product to treat and prevent future ingrown hairs. Ask your esthetician about it at your next visit and be free of unsightly ingrown hairs in no time!
There you have it! This was the last part to this three-part series. Thank you for reading and sharing this information with those you know are interested in achieving a more balanced, glowing, radiant complexion. Knowing your skin type is very important to scoring a perfect complexion! We look forward to discussing any questions you have about the above-mentioned Dermalogica products over the phone or at your next visit!
