It’s true. Not all skin tones face the same issues, and nor do they respond to the same treatments. Fortunately, at Skin Renewal, we’ve got years of experience in treating skin of all colours, and we know which methods are best suited for those with darker skin, as well as, which treatments deliver the best results.
Here are just three conditions typical to darker skin types, and how we treat them – in a way that’s perfectly safe yet incredibly effective.
Pigmentation
Getting rid of pigmentation in darker skin types can be a challenge. That is why we’ll create a custom treatment path to suit the severity of your specific condition and skin tone. For example, many lasers can treat pigmentation, but not all of them are safe to use on darker skins.
Happily, we know which ones to use and the settings required for the best results. A firm favourite is our brilliant Laser Genesis treatment it can treat all skin types, including very dark skin. It offers a quick, no downtime treatment, and it gently heats the deeper layers of your skin. It causes the break-up of stubborn, deeply-rooted pigmentation, turning it into fragments that then travel upwards towards the surface of your skin. It then becomes a lot easier to remove via exfoliation.
Another way we can improve pigmentation is through a medical-grade skin peel like the MesoBrite™ treatment. A two-pronged treatment, the first is an intensive peel that takes place in our offices. You’ll be given specially formulated topical products to use at home under the guidance of one of our doctors. These will help improve the results and keep your skin clear of pigmentation going forward.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
One of the main reasons we have to be so careful when treating pigmentation is to reduce the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Anything that the skin perceives to be an “injury”, even a pimple, can result in tricky and hard to treat dark marks.
Again, this is where Laser Genesis shines, as well as, the Fraxel Dual Laser , yet another laser that is ‘colour-blind’ and perfectly suited to those with darker skin tones.
We can also use skin peels to treat more severe PIH at Skin Renewal, and one of these is our ever-popular, medical-grade Pigment Control Peel. It will require about three to four days of social downtime, but the result is glowing, more evenly toned skin that makes the time out all worthwhile.
Dermatosis papulosa nigra
Another common condition that affects those with darker skin is dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN).These flat or fleshy growths, often mistaken for moles, freckles, skin tags or warts, tend to form in clusters on the face and neck. Chances are you’ve spotted them on actor Morgan Freeman.
Unprotected sun exposure can encourage them, but they are typically caused by genetics and ageing. Fortunately, they’re not cancerous, but they can get larger and grow in number, this is why many people choose to have them removed. Treatment is done using a long-pulsed Nd: YAG laser and the treatment is quick and safe. The treated spots may get a little darker, or grey in appearance immediately after the procedure. They fall off entirely within two weeks, but 2-3 treatments may be required. Especially if you have used a topical product to pre-treat your skin beforehand, please refer and ask about our treatment protocol.
Ultimately, at Skin Renewal, we pride ourself in treating skin of all colours and skin tones. Whatever your concern, we can help you achieve the best results in a way that’s completely customised, perfectly safe and brilliantly effective.