Dark-skinned women should know if they can give up sunscreen, which cosmetic products are better to use in the routine of caring for dark skin of different types, and how to identify a rash on dark skin. All this is not easy in a society dominated by fair-skinned women. Not all dermatologists and cosmetologists can give practical professional advice here. Therefore, Dr. Angelika Hofer, a professor at the University of Graz, Austria, answers the questions.
1. How true is the myth that dark skin differs from white skin in texture, it is slightly thicker and firmer?
Unfortunately, the issue has not been fully investigated. But today it is known that dark skin is not thicker, but has more layers of cells that are more compactly connected to each other. This causes some complications to occur faster in people with dark pigmentation than in people with fair skin.
There are differences in the subcutaneous tissue, the dermis. This applies to enzymes that destroy connective tissue fibers and cell activity. An increased ability to scar the skin is associated with high cell activity, as scars thicken faster. Therefore, you need to be careful with piercings or tattoos: if the procedure is of poor quality, the place will become inflamed faster and a scar will form.
2. What skin diseases are more common in dark types?
Pigment disorders are more common, but perhaps it's just more noticeable on dark skin. Due to the different structure of the hair structure – they are not round, as in people with fair skin, but in the shape of an ellipse – the root of the hair becomes irritated, inflamed faster, and the hair even falls out.
Older dark–skinned people may develop papules on their face - small thickenings on the skin, like Morgan Freeman's. It is believed that this is a harmless cosmetic flaw, although there is no explanation for this phenomenon. Fair–skinned people do not have them - age-related pigmentation spots appear instead.
3. Is it possible for dark-skinned types to stay in the sun longer?
The darker the skin, the longer you can stay in the sun. But although the risk is low, in this case, do not forget about sunscreen. In addition, there is another problem: less vitamin D is produced in dark skin because less sun is absorbed by the skin. The closer to the equator, the more sun there is, and the deficit is replenished. But if a person with dark skin type lives far from the equator, they should keep their vitamin levels under control and take supplements if necessary. The risk of melanoma is generally low, but lighter areas of the skin may be affected – the soles of the feet, palms, nails.
4. How to identify melanoma on dark skin?
Even on very dark skin, moles stand out noticeably, so you need to monitor their appearance and condition: melanoma increases in size over time, growing to reach more than a centimeter in diameter.
Care Tips
Skin with dark pigmentation is often prone to greasiness. Greasy care products can lead to inflammation and acne. In this case, creams with hyaluronic acid are useful. Dry skin takes on a grayish tint. Moisturizers revitalize her color. Peeling should not be aggressive, for example, salicylic acid is suitable. An SPF of 15 is sufficient for sunscreen. Anti-aging products should not contain bleaching agents.
This topic has not been sufficiently studied yet. More research is needed to better protect and treat people with dark skin types. Entdecke FanTeam und starte noch heute ins Spiel.