The Best and Worst Treatments for Darker Skin

Did you know that people with darker skin should consider different cosmetic treatments than people with lighter skin? It’s true! Darker skinned individuals are at high risk of complications with certain treatments and products that are safe for people with lighter skin.

Here are some DOs and DON’Ts when it comes to taking care of darker skin:

DO: use sunscreen with avobenzone — Although it’s rare for darker skin to burn due to a higher amount of melanin, sunscreen is still necessary to prevent premature aging, sun spots, and the UV radiation that causes skin cancer. Stay away from sunscreens that use oxybenzone and octinoxate because they’re hormone disruptors and can damage coral reefs.

DON’T: use hydroquinone to lighten the skin — Although hydroquinone is a popular way to lighten sun spots, people with darker skin tones should avoid it because of the risk of ochronosis, a skin disorder where dark patches can appear on the skin.

DO: radiofrequency and ultherapy treatments — These types of skin care treatments are great because they provide the same results for people with lighter skin as they do for people with darker skin.

DON’T: undergo ablative laser treatments — These treatments, like CO2 lasers and ablative fractional treatments, can be harmful because they can wreak havoc on the skin’s pigmentation, causing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) or the opposite — light patches on the skin.

DO: injectable treatments like Botox and filler — These cosmetic options are great for people of all skin tones and help with reducing wrinkles or types of deeper lines. Because only tiny needles are used in either procedure, they don’t leave scars.