Acne: Considerations for darker skin

Acne affects millions of Americans each year and impacts people of all skin tones, yet acne can pose special challenges in people with darker skin. In darker skin, one pimple or breakout can cause dark marks, scars, or even keloids (scar tissue that continues to grow larger than the original scar) that last for months to years afterward. Those affected are left searching for the secrets to treatment — or better yet, prevention. In this post we discuss how acne and similar or related conditions may be treated, and sometimes prevented, in people with darker skin. Acne triggers release of melanin Melanin, the same molecule that pigments our skin and hair and protects us from the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun, can also protect our skin from inflammation. When the skin gets inflamed from acne (or from harsh acne products), our skin releases melanin. This can result in dark spots, known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), that can last longer than the acne itself and are more likely to occur in people with darker skin. In more severe cases, textural scarring and even keloids can develop from the inflammation. Preventive measures and timely treatment can help improve, minimize, or even prevent PIH, scarring, and keloids. What if it’s not acne at all? Before jumping into treatments, it is important to recognize that there are other conditions that can look like acne but are not. Individuals with darker skin may be more susceptible to ingrown hairs, for example, w...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Skin and Hair Care Source Type: blogs