You want to put your best face forward. African American skin needs to be maintained properly to look its best. Common problems among African-Americans are hyperpigmentation (dark spots) caused by scars from acne or other injuries to the skin and “ashy” or gray skin caused by not exfoliating properly. While African-Americans do have the advantage of natural protection from the sun (we’ve all heard the phrase “Black don’t crack.”, that doesn’t mean that Black skin care can be taken for granted.
Cleanse
Choose a cleanser that will remove makeup, oil, and dirt without stripping your skin. Oil-based removers are perfect for dry skin and others have acne-fighting ingredients built in. If you choose a cleanser with an ingredient like salicylic acid to fight and prevent blemishes, be sure you’re not doubling up with similar ingredients in your moisturizer. The combined effect could be too harsh for your skin.
Examine Your Skin Periodically
Another crucial tip in skin care for black women is that you need to examine your skin for certain irregularities. Usually, Afro American women have a lower possibility of getting skin cancer as compared to women having lighter skin color. Nevertheless, there is still a slight possibility of them getting skin cancer.
You need to adopt a steady routine of getting your skin tested at least once in a month. Check for dark spots that previously were not apparent on your skin. If you have some marks at present, pay heed to any differences in shape, size, and tone. It is recommended to consult with a dermatologist who would let you know better about your skin condition.
Moisturize Your Skin
For making your skin glow all the time, you need to add as much extra moisture to it as possible. In case of a darker tone, the skin may seem dry and ash-gray without proper skin care. The best time when you can apply a moisturizer on your body is immediately after taking a shower or bath. However, you should ensure that you use a separate moisturizer for your face.
A majority of moisturizing products are too harsh to be applied on the face. If your facial skin is highly sensitive, the product might not get absorbed into the skin. Most of the moisturizing products have particular nutrients to treat problem areas without adding extra oils, perfumes, or other unessential elements. Use good quality moisturizers to get rid of dry skin.
Scheduled Skin Regimen
In order to keep the skin healthy, it is very essential to make a daily skin care regimen. To remove an everyday buildup which comes from oil and other cosmetic products, try to use a non-abrasive cleaner. Stay away from harsh cleansers as they may lead to unwanted breakouts and inflammation.
In order to get even skin tone go for a specialized product for hyper pigmentation. Lastly, exfoliate the skin to get rid of dead skin cells. It is also recommended that one need to adopt a steady routine of getting the skin tested at least once in a month by a dermatologist.
Aging Skin
Darker skin tones typically show aging less than those with lighter skin; issues such as fine lines and wrinkles often appear later and may be less pronounced. However, there are some issues particular to African American skin that come with aging, including an increase in skin growths, more uneven skin tone, and hollowness of the cheeks. Good preventative skin care can help keep skin looking even and beautiful, and cosmetic procedures are available to remove unwanted growths or restore fullness to facial areas.
Following a good basic skin care routine and addressing and concerns with a skin specialist can help you to obtain and maintain beautiful skin. Although there are challenges specific to black skin, there is continuing growth and expansion of the products, services, and treatments available to help everyone have healthy, gorgeous skin.