Ethnic skin is not immune to conditions such as freckles, age spots, wrinkles, poor skin texture & pigmentation. There are however several skin conditions that are more common in Asian skin types. These include-
Skin pigmentation / Melasma- this skin condition is much more common in Indians, Fijians, Pacific Islanders, Sri Lankans as well as Caucasian. Melasma presents are patchy areas of skin darkening around the eyes, forehead, and upper lip. Bleaching creams, and Q Switch laser can help reduce pigmentation by 80%.
Age spots and sun spots - these can also occur on Asian skin. The use of erbium laser, Q Switch laser, LaseMD, Pico or Fraxel can reduce pigmentation, rejuvenate skin and improve wrinkles. The 1927 wavelength is my preferred laser as the chances of skin darkening is very low with this machine. I also combine Pico lasers (not the older Picosure laser, but the Picoway)
The fundamental difference between dark and lighter skin types include-
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Melanocytes; same number, but larger and bigger, and more active, receptor differences including OPSN 1 receptors in dark skin. Tyrosinase activity increased in darker skin types compared to lighter skin
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Melanin- or pigment. This gives skin colour (genetics), tanning or post inflammatory pigmentation. This is key as melanin is photoprotective as it reduces UVB and UVA. The later is the responsible to elastosis, photo damage and wrinkles (extrinsic ageing).
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Melanin facts;
1. Concentration is double in darker skin types (within melanosomes)
2. Degradation is slower
3. Melanosomes are larger
4. Melanin in darker skin offers SPF 15
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Underneath the skin - is where the differences of laxity, wrinkless, volume
Dermis - thicker , better elastic recoil in darker skin types.
Fibroblasts- More in number, multinucleate, larger, reactive. This means more potential to generate collagen, and a denser amount of collagen, but the flipside is also more potential to develop keloid and hypertrophic scars.
22 авг 2024
