Skin care

The Top 4 African American Skin Care Issues, Solved

Keloids, eczema, hyperpigmentation -- dark skin is especially prone to certain skin conditions. Do you know how to treat them?

by Erica Smith | 1 COMMENT

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Everyone has their pet peeves in the realm of skin care. Wrinkles, blackheads, enlarged pores, acne, dark circles -- the list is practically endless. Although certain conditions can be influenced by your skin type, age or lifestyle, the likelihood of some problems can hinge on your skin tone. Case in point: African American women are more likely to suffer from keloid scars, ingrown hairs, hyperpigmentation and eczema -- four skin conditions that are not only more prevalent in dark skin, but sometimes hard to detect and to treat.

"We dermatologists see all skin types, but with ethnic skin, you need to be extremely careful and cognizant," says Dr. Melanie Palm, director of Art of Skin, M.D., and assistant volunteer professor at the University of California San Diego. "There are many nuances to African American skin in particular. First and foremost, you want to find a doctor that has experience in treating ethnic skin, knows all subtleties of the skin color and knows how to treat them appropriately." Click ahead to see which skin care issues affect African American women the most, the steps you can take at home to prevent them and what to discuss with your dermatologist.

SEE NEXT PAGE: The Issue: Ingrown Hairs

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