Skin Treatments Can Backfire On People Of Color
Most Laser Hair Removal Ads Feature Caucasian Skin
UPDATED: 9:36 a.m. EDT September 22, 2003
NEW YORK -- Lasers have revolutionized the treatment of a wide range of skin problems, from wrinkles to excess hair.
But for people of color -- including blacks, Asians and Latinos -- these procedures can cause as many problems as they fix, unless you know what you're doing.
It has become a fairly standard procedure for both men and women who want to remove unwanted hair. But most ads and stories about laser hair removal feature white or Caucasian skin, leaving people of color wondering.
"Can I get it done? Is that for me?" asked Linda Cooper, a hair removal patient. "It's not really out there what we can do for our skin."
It's not trivial question. Cosmetic skin procedures that are routine in white skin can leave unsightly discoloration in skin of color, too light or too dark in black, Asian or Latino skin.
"(It can cause) scarring dark marks on the skin; blisters can occur," said Dr. Susan Taylor of St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York. "Even light marks that take months, if not years, to resolve can occur. These aren't side effects that are common to white skin but are pretty unique to skin of color."
"Nobody ever told me anything," said Cleo Williams, a lupus patient. "They just gave me a prescription. Try this, try that, and nothing worked."
And it's not just cosmetic procedures that people of color have to watch for. Williams had suffered for years with lupus that had caused dark areas on her face. No one got it right until Williams saw Taylor, who specializes in skin of color.
"She gave me two cream (treatments) and it took it away," said Williams.
Over the years, Taylor had seen so many such problems that she wrote a book specifically for skin of color.
She said there are many myths about darker skin -- the first being that it's immune to the harmful effects of the sun.
"In skin of color, as in white skin, the sun can lead to skin cancer and it can lead to aging the skin," said Taylor. "But what's unique about the sun exposure and brown skin is that the sun can lead to further darkening of discolorations, which is a major problem to begin with in individuals with skin of color."
Therefore, sunscreen is important for everyone and can minimize some of the discoloration that the sun makes worse.
Before you undergo any skin procedure, make sure the person is experienced with skin of color. Also, do a small test patch to determine the right approach for your skin.
Copyright 2003 by clickorlando.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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