Contrary to popular belief, Darker or Black skin has certain needs specific to its genetic make-up. But the same basic steps in skin care are still needed. Cleaning, toning, treatment, moisturizing and sun, is needed.
Black or dark skin tends to have varying pigmentation and undertones even on one individual. Darker skin has a problem with hyper-pigmentation and scaring. Special care is needed to avoid these situations and repair already damaged skin. It is therefore important to know your skin type and problem areas if any.
Pigment or melanin is nature's way of protecting the skin from ultraviolet light. Uneven pigmentation of the skin may be a natural occurrence or related to ultraviolet light, infection, hormones, drugs, acne or topical chemicals applied to the skin.
Melanin also helps to keep darken toned people looking younger by slowing down the aging process. Those with darker skin age often becomes irregularly pigmented, which shows up as dark patches on the skin. Irregular pigmentation can also be caused by inflammation. If an area of the skin becomes inflamed or red from an insect bite or acne pimples, a brown area can be left behind as the redness or inflammation subsides.
There are also skin diseases and genetic abnormalities that can cause hyper-pigmentation. Common causes include sunspots, freckles, "acne spots" and melasma (pregnancy mask).
The secret to black and dark skin beauty is to understand the many undertones found in darker skin. It is important to know your skin type then choose cleansing and makeup products that best complement your natural tones.
Darker skin care is just as easy to follow as any other skin care. Different types of skin simply use different skin care products. There isn't much more to it than that. Learning which products work best on darker skin is the first step in treating your darker complexion.
Today, many cosmetic companies are beginning to target those with darker skin, and many more products can be found. A good rule to remember is that those with darker skin need heavy oil based products which penetrate deep into the skin and leaves skin healthy but not abundantly oily.
Cleaning
The color of the skin hides the damage so the bruising is normally not noticed. Also, darker skin tones tend to look gray if too dry, therefore over washing should be avoided.
Wash regularly- once in the morning and at night, if your skin is oily, you can add a washing during the afternoon.
It is best not to use soap for cleaning the face or skin since they tend to be drying. If you have oily skin a purifying cleanser is a good choice. The face should not be scrubbed too hard while washing. Darer skin is delicate and excessive cleaning and harsh handling will result in bruising and microscopic tears.
Use mild, non-soap cleansers. The cleanser should gently lift dirt and remove excess oil. But, it should not "strip" your skin leaving it dry as a bone.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation while necessary, especially for those over twenty or with acne, should be done cautiously.
Darker skin tends to have large pores, toning after exfoliation or cleansing is essential, to help keep the pores healthy. This helps prevent black heads and other skin problems which will cause dark spots, or hyper-pigmentation, as you age.
Moisturizing
Some dermatologists disagree that everyone needs to moisturize, especially those with oily skin. Oily skin is a condition that affects a large majority of persons with darker skin. If your skin is dry however, you do need to moisturize.
Apart from the obvious reasons to keep your skin hydrated, those with darker skin tend to have eczema. This skin condition, while not curable, can be controlled by keeping the skin or other affected areas well moisturized.
For those with dark skin it is best to use creams instead of lotions for moisturizing as darker skin absorbs creams more effectively.
Sun Protection
Despite having more melanin than lighter skin, people of color still need to practice sun protection.
Also people of African descent or other dark-skinned nationalities can and do get skin cancer. It is a common belief that the melanin in dark skin protects it from skin cancer. The truth is melanin only offers some amount of protection. What is true is that with black skin, sun damage is less obvious. The use of sunscreen SPF 15 and higher is recommended.
Black or darker skin is easier to take care of with a little knowledge. Know your skin type, have a daily skin care routine, use products especially made for your particular skin, wear sun screen during warmer weather and moisturize when it is colder.
ll in all, skin is skin, but black skin is normally abused because of the misconception that it is tougher than lighter skin.
Michele Winslow (c) 2008
When word gets around about your command of Ethical facts, others who need to know about Ethics will start to actively seek you out.
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