The biggest issue women of colour have to contend with when caring for their skin are problem dark marks and hyper-pigmentation. This month Pride talks tips on getting the best skin of your life!
Harness The Power of Vitamin C
Vitamin C acts as an anti oxidant to prevent damage from the environment which can cause darkness and pigmentation. To give you a better understanding when you cut an apple the white turns brown because of oxidation, to prevent this you put lemon juice on it. Vitamin C products work the same way preventing and helping to reduce pigmentation already there. Using a sunscreen will minimise the inflammatory response from the sun that causes pigmentation. So will eating water rich food like broccoli, pomegranate and watermelon, proven to minimise sun damage.
Protect with SPF
Pigmentation can be on the surface of the skin or more deep rooted, either way it is exacerbated by the sun. The important thing to remember is to always wear an SPF face cream to prevent this pigmentation occurring, even in the winter months. We recommend using no lower than SPF20. Key products to look out for when addressing pigmentation in darker skins are those that lighten and even.
Have a Black skin Friendly Face Peel
Peel Chemical peels are an effective way to deeply exfoliate skin and help peel the dead layers off to get rid of acne, scars and wrinkles. With darker skin tones it is recommended that you only use specific types of chemical peel due to black skin’s sensitivity to this type of treatment. Using a strong chemical peel on dark skin can further damage it if used improperly, instead a gentler treatment have been developed for this skin type. The Mandelic Clear Peel is derived from almond or wild cherry is considered one of the gentlest peels available. There is little risk of any post- treatment inflammatory reaction and it’s considered an excellent treatment for those who have skin issues due to acne, melasma or photodamaged skin.
Use Prescriptive Medicated Creams
You have to be exceptionally careful when treating hyper-pigmentation on darker skin as it is more prone to scarring. In my experience, one of my preferred methods of treatment is to use the Obagi skincare range. This is a prescribed range of products only available through a medical clinic. Through a combination of active ingredients, they stimulate cell regeneration and improved the overall appearance of the skin giving a more even complexion. Like all medical procedures there are risks but the Obagi Skincare when used under medical guidance can achieve impressive results with minimal risk of complications.
