Darker skin tones tend to dry out and crack more often, which can be aggravated by an increased tendency to acne. To reduce local irritation, oil-free moisturizing products should be used, but care must be taken not to overload the skin and compromise its function as an essential barrier. There are several products available that help minimize fine lines and even out color fluctuations, such as Prevage MD (Allergan, Irvine, CA) and TNS (Skin Medica, Carlsbad, CA). MD Forte I, II and III skin rejuvenation lotions (Allergan) contain respectively increasing concentrations of glycolic acid and moisturize, even out tone and improve skin texture.
However, the use of aggressive or abrasive blends can cause skin irritation and worsen post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Over-the-counter astringents containing alcohol should be avoided as they remove necessary oils from the skin, making it prone to inflammation, hyperpigmentation and irritations. Cocoa butter should also not be applied to every imaginable ethnic skin problem. Acne affects millions of Americans every year and affects people of all skin tones, but acne can pose special challenges for people with darker skin.
On darker skin, a pimple or breakout can cause dark marks, scars, or even keloids (scar tissue that continues to grow longer than the original scar) that last for months or years later. To address this issue, a rational evaluation should be recommended with the identification of the specific problem and the selection of targeted therapy. In addition to acne treatment, people with darker skin tones may also consider cosmetic surgery procedures such as CoolSculpting, Liposuction/Abdominoplasty, Breast Enlargement, Breast Reduction, Breast Lift, Eyelid Lift, Injectable Chin Implants, Injectable Hair Removal, Hair Loss Treatment, Skin Care Laser Dermatology Services/Scar Repair and Sexual Dysfunction Treatment. Surgery may be an option for people of all skin tones and for people who have different types of vitiligo.
However, surgery is generally not recommended for people who have active vitiligo. The fact that younger men were more likely to consider cosmetic surgery than older men can be explained by the recent increase in male cosmetic surgery. Those affected are left looking for the secrets of treatment or prevention. Exposure to the media may not have a direct effect on considerations for undergoing cosmetic surgery (although this may be mediated by the internalization of media messages).
A lower self-assessment of physical attractiveness leads us to consider cosmetic surgery; future studies could explore the levels of satisfaction of those who have undergone surgery. The more people who had undergone cosmetic surgery knew about men who had undergone cosmetic surgery, the less likely they were to consider having surgery themselves. Therefore, it is important to fully consider all surgical possibilities before making a decision.
