Addressing the Top Skincare Concerns of African American Women

Those with dark or deep skin tone know that their skin comes with its own set of unique benefits as well as challenges. The following tips, tricks, and insights will help you discover your best beautiful African American skin.

The Skincare Benefits

Those with dark or deep skin have a high concentration of melanin, which offers some natural protection against sunburn and other visible signs of UV damage like wrinkles and skin texture changes. Higher oil content of darker skin can also help skin stand the test of time — skin cell turnover is 2.5 times faster than that of lighter skin — and faster cell turnover helps reveal younger, healthier-looking skin.

Common Skincare Concerns

Though darker skin does not visibly burn the way lighter skin might, sun damage can still lead to uneven skin and other tone changes so proper sun protection should not be overlooked.

Darker skin tends to be more acne-prone because it has larger sebaceous glands that produce more oil. Furthermore, those with darker skin are more likely to experience post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), dark spots that linger for weeks or months after acne has healed, caused by the overproduction of melanin.

Skincare “Musts” for African American Women

• Do Not Shy Away From Sun Protection. Regardless of skin colour or tone, it is essential to wear a lotion with SPF of at least 15 every day to help protect skin from UV damage. Diligent sun protection can also help prevent a pimple from turning into a dark spot.
• Look for an Oil-Free Formula that Won’t Block Pores. A tone-correcting moisturizer at night can also help hydrate skin and even out skin tone.
• Prioritize Key Ingredients. To prevent breakouts, wash with a cleanser containing salicylic acid to exfoliate skin and help keep pores clear. To stay hydrated, use a daily moisturizer that is non-comedogenic which will not clog pores.
  
  

Armed with the knowledge of your skin’s dynamic composition and behavior, along with key skincare tips, you are well on your way toward the best beautiful African American skin you can get!

Sources:
http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/article_skinofcolor.html http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/prevention-and-care/skin-of-color http://www.olay.com/Black-Skin-Care http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921746/ http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/skin-cancer-and-skin-of-color http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMc4583889/