Are You Challenged With Skin Discoloration-Hyperpigmentation?

It’s a known fact that much of the world’s population is of brown skin or darker hues. They’re (industry) always trying to categorize people, and there is, in the industry, what’s known as the Fitzpatrick Scale. It gauges color and skin type based on numbers (roman numerals I-VI).

So if you were considered Fitzpatrick skin type I, which is very white or freckled, your reaction to the sun would be to always burn. If you’re a Fitzpatrick VI, your skin is dark to black, your reaction to the sun is that you would typically not burn.

According the statistics taken by the US census bureau in 2000, by 2015, 50% of Americans will be of dark skin racial backgrounds. One of the most common skin conditions in what’s known as higher Fitzpatrick clients is that of skin discoloration or hyperpigmentation.

Although many of the popular treatments and products designed for Caucasians are used by people of color, it’s not always true that products designed for Caucasians will benefit people of color.

Within the darker skin colors, what’s happening in the industry is brand owners are stepping up their game to increase how skin of color is taken care of, especially with over the counter products.

What’s being shown is that there are differences in your skin and of those from different ethnicity.  Color is one of the obvious identifications of showing the difference between complexion and how it should be handled.

What Causes Skin Discoloration

We know, as people of color, melanin can be our friend and a challenge.  Our skin takes on what’s known as hyperpigmentation or discoloration.

It can occur from UV exposure to the sun, hormonal fluctuations in men and women and some medications.

Melanin, which is referred to as the complex molecule, is responsible for the color in your body. Not only is it responsible for the color in your skin, but also your hair and eyes. It works to protect the penetration of UV rays into your skin and your cells where your DNA resides.

Treatment Options for Skin Discoloration/Hyperpigmentation

Some of the treatment options and many of the ingredients used to treat hyperpigmentation can be topically irritating. So when you apply it to your skin, you might see redness, it might burn and that within itself will cause more traumas.

So ingredients must be selected with care and you want to make sure that when you’re treating your skin or buying products to treat your skin, you’ll avoid causing unnecessary irritation that can worsen the condition you’re treating rather than improve it.

Now what you typically need to do is avoid over stimulating any procedure that you do. For instance, when you’re exfoliating your skin, there’s no need to apply extreme pressure to remove dead skin cells from your face or body.

We’ve been taught to think that the harder we apply the better the outcome will be, and that’s not always the case.

The more pressure you apply to your skin as a dark skin person or a person of color, the more irritation you will experience.

What’s The Take Away?

So when it comes to you and your beauty, the take away is as a person of color, your beautiful black skin will have challenges, even though the melanin is there to protect you.

Your skin can still be challenged by sun and over stimulation of exfoliation. Ingredients should also be chosen carefully.

You want to make sure that what you’re buying doesn’t have an over abundance of alcohol or too much of an acidic compound.

So choose how you care for your skin with caution, because not all products, whether it’s over the counter or with prescription are designed to treat and care for your beautiful black skin.

Dedicated To Your Beauty,

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care