Over the Counter Acne Treatment For People With Dark Complexions
October 17, 2008The treatment of acne for those with dark complexions shares a lot of similarities with the treatment of acne for fair skinned people. There are also a bunch of differences that we will uncover, that will effect how you should be treating your skin.
Darker skin has many advantages and disadvantages when it comes to skin care. One thing that people with dark skin rarely have to worry about is getting sunburned. A resistance to cancer and wrinkles are just a few of the advantages that come from darker skin. The compound that determines skin color, melanin, is created in more volume, distributing more color throughout the skin.
Unfortunately it’s now time to get to the disadvantages. You’re probably reading this because you’re well aware of the disadvantages, but we’ll go into detail to figure out how they are caused, and what we can do to neutralize them. And just to make it clear, these are conditions that darker skin complexed people of all races face; black, white, Asian, Hispanic, and everything in between.
Dark Spots
Dark spots are the most common problem for many. These are the same as red and purple inflamed spots that people with white skin have to deal with. With darker skin, these spots appear in darker colors. Dark spots are a more important concern than acne itself for people with dark skin. Dark spots are essentially battle scars, caused by healing lesions originally caused by acne. For many lucky people these spots will slowly fade on their own, but if you take care of your skin properly, dark spots can be avoided from the beginning.
Avoid irritating dark spots to make them worse
Avoiding irritation is key to preventing dark spots. Popping pimples, and other unhealthy ways of getting rid of acne are the leading cause of dark spots. Resist the temptation to pick at your acne, and you’ll be much better off. Excess face washing causes a great deal of irritation for those suffering from acne, make sure you’re cleaning your face properly.
Prevention and Treatment of Dark Spots
The first line of defense against dark spots is the regular use of sunscreen. In the sun, majority of your skin pigment will attract to the dark spots, making them darker, and preventing your lighter skin from darker pigmentation. SPF 15+ is recommended.
Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are very viable treatments. Begin use of benzoyl peroxide first, applying directly to your skin daily. For added effect, assuming your skin can handle it, apply salicylic acid. Both of these products are widely available over the counter. If you find they irritate your skin too much, you can try a lower concentration product.
Seeking Additional Help
If over the counter product can quite get the job done, its time to turn to the help of a dermatologist. There are even dermatologist that specialize in dark complexions. A dermatologist will be able to better analyze your particular skin condition. They will then be able to prescribe and appropriate treatment.
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Tags: acne treatment, benzoyl peroxide, dark skin, dermatologist, skin, skin care, skin color
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