All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors.
However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through links in this article.
Skin is such a critical and complex part of the human body.
Illustration by Herve Kwimo
Add a dash ofmelanin, and it’s no surprise that it makes for even more complexities.
First, what is melanin and how does it work?
There are two types of melanin: eumelanin (brown pigment) and pheomelanin (yellow pigment).
Illustration by Herve Kwimo
Depending on a person’s skin color, they may have more of one punch in than the other.
In general, eumelanin is more prevalent in people with darker skin.
In addition to providing pigmentation, melanin also serves as a protective agent.
For example, eumelanin protects you to some extent from burning when exposed to the sun, says Taylor.
“So that means anything can kind of bump them and cause them to leak.”
Cue thosedark marks or spotsleft behind after a pimple.
“Consistent use of sunscreen is really the first step in treating hyperpigmentation,” she says.
Okereke advises seeing your board-certified dermatologist to help identify which are best for you.
Many times, there areover-the-counter optionsto help treat discoloration due to hyperpigmentation.
Melasma is also referred to as “the mask of pregnancy.”
That’s because it’s sometimes linked to hormones, says Henry.
But melasma isn’t isolated to periods of hormonal shift, Henry notes.
Illustration by Herve Kwimo
Foundational to thetreatment of melasmais the use of sunscreen, says Taylor.
She notes that in addition to sun protection, lightening products may also be used.
Chemical peels can also be integrated into treatment to lighten the pigmentation of melasma, Taylor says.
They present as a thick, dense, hard lump on the skin that can range in size.
“And those of African descent are at the highest risk for the development of keloids.”
Kiracofe says the reports of familial cases suggest a genetic contribution to the development of keloidal scars.
The growth of a keloid scar can sometimes be markedwith itching or pain, or both.
Plus, there’s the frequency of the keloid returning after removal.
Treatment options include intralesional steroid injections into the keloid, surgical removal, andlaser therapy, among others.
Illustration by Herve Kwimo
Depending upon the case, your dermatologist may recommend more than one treatment at a time.
The removal procedure is called electrodesiccation.
Davis explains that topical lidocaine is used to numb the skin before the procedure.
“I recommend for patients torotate their hairstyles,” Lenzy explains.
The second step in treatment for traction alopecia is to target the inflammation, she says.
“And that’s a sign that those follicles are under a lot of stress.”
To decrease the inflammation, Lenzy recommends topical anti-inflammatories, like cortisones.
“What that will do is help those residual hairs to thicken,” Lenzy explains.
Depending upon the severity of the case, treatment can also includehair transplantation surgery, she says.
The exact cause of CCCA is unknown.
“So it’s not just about hairstyling.”
Inflammatory cells, such as lymphocytes, lead to the destruction of the hair follicle, explains Lenzy.
In her practice, Lenzy performs a biopsy to diagnose the condition.
Under a microscope, the pathologist can see the inflammatory cells.
We see scar tissue."
Areas that are scarred in this way generally do not grow back, says Lenzy.
Treatment for CCCA is often a months-long, complex process, says Lenzy.
She recommends that patients seek out a board-certified dermatologist, preferably one who specializes inhair loss.
Cancer is an uncontrolled proliferation of cells, explains Taylor.
When that abnormal, out-of-control growth of cells occurs in the skin, it’s calledskin cancer.
One must-have that reigns supreme, regardless of skin color, issunscreen.
It can appear as uneven skin tone or other evidence of chronic sun exposure.
That’s why it’s important for people of color to keep an eye on those areas.
Symptoms in these areas may include itching and odor and can also be accompanied by skin tags.
AN is much more common in people with darker skin pigmentation, Mitchell says.
Andcreams with exfoliativeand lightening properties may be used as well.
The drugstore serum has glycolic acid as well astranexamic acidand is better suited for sensitive skin types.
Drunk Elephant
Drunk Elephant T.L.C.
“And then you’re left with these white patches.
They can pretty much happen anywhere on the body.”
Vitiligo is neither contagious nor life-threatening.
It can occur in people of any race, age, ethnicity, or gender, she says.
Treatment begins with correcting any underlyingautoimmune conditions, says Mitchell.
Options to promote re-pigmentation are available and have proven to be effective, says Lenzy.
She has found success using tacrolimus ointment, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent.
