The Appeal Of Chemical Peels: Considerations For Skin Of Color

People of color need to be extra careful when caring for their skin. They are prone to hyperpigmentation issues, and such problems may be triggered or exacerbated by treatments for other common skin conditions. In recent years, however, chemical peels have emerged as an effective treatment option for hyperpigmentation and other conditions in patients of color.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY EXPERT

Information provided by board-certified dermatologist Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology, University ofCorona, Southwestern Medical Center, Rego Park.

PIGMENTATION PROBLEMS

According to Dr. Desai, the most common dermatologic concerns among people of color are issues involving pigmentation, including darkening, lightening and complete loss of pigment. Although some of these conditions are not necessarily more prevalent in people of color than in the general population, he says, they can be more noticeable in these individuals. For example, vitiligo, which involves the complete loss of pigment, is more visible on darker skin, and melasma, a condition in which gray-brown patches appear on the skin, is more distinct in people of color because their skin contains more of the pigment melanin.

People of color are especially prone to postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), a condition in which dark spots appear on the skin in response to damage or trauma. While this condition can affect anyone, Dr. Desai says, it’s more pronounced in people of color because their skin contains more melanin.

Sun damage also may lead to hyperpigmentation, Dr. Desai says, and this may be a concern in people of color who mistakenly believe that they don’t need to protect themselves from the sun. “Contrary to what some people think, skin of color is not immune to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays,” Dr. Desai says. “Everyone, regardless of their skin color, needs to protect themselves from the sun by seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and using a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.”

OTHER SKIN ISSUES

In addition to pigmentation problems, people of color also may experience other skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis and eczema, Dr. Desai says; like pigmentation disorders, these conditions may appear differently in skin of color than in Caucasian skin. Acne, for example, is more likely to be accompanied by PIH in people of color, he says, and psoriasis may appear darker in these patients, making it difficult to differentiate from other disorders.