Black Men’s Skin Care Products: Do They Need Special Products?
Dermatologists are sometimes fond of saying that “skin is skin” – meaning that skin issues don’t discriminate based on factors such as black men’s skin care tone or gender. In addition, while skin conditions like acne and psoriasis can happen to people of all skin tones, they can manifest and affect people with darker skin in different ways (and sometimes more frequently). Furthermore, the way these issues are treated may differ depending on skin tone, since some products may react differently on darker skin tones. A lot of how skin conditions manifest and how products react has to do with how much pigment is in your skin. A lot of product sensitivity can be attributed to pigment cells’ sensitivity to chemicals, heat, dryness, and inflammation, says dermatologist Lynn McKinley-Grant, M.D.
A specially formulated skin care product can help
Even though companies claim otherwise, black men’s skin care and treatment is never one-size-fits-all, and this is particularly true of darker skin tones. Even companies that already make products that work well and are dermatologist-recommended lack proper education and testing when it comes to skincare for dark skin.re for dark skin. Doctor Corey Hartman, M.D., says it is shameful that companies don’t market to Black people and realize the value of those people, and don’t have people on their team to spread the word to them.
Beware of the hype machine
Dr. Hartman warns that just because a product says it was designed for darker black men’s skin care doesn’t mean it’s necessarily good, despite companies’ efforts to educate men of color about skincare. In addition to the ingredient list, the most important thing to consider is that the product has actually been tested on a variety of skin tones. Cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson advises manufacturers to identify if their products have been tested on certain demographics. But it can be difficult to understand the testing process without doing thorough research. It may be one advantage of brands created by and for men of color – theoretically they have done the research for you. Despite the fact that “skin is skin,” men of color face specific issues more often than their lighter counterparts.
Razor bumps and ingrown hairs
Dr. Hartman says Black men deal with razor bumps and shaving irritation more than anyone else. “It’s an inherent problem due to the curly texture of the hair.” The curlier the hair, the more likely it will be caught as it grows, making the body “attack it as something foreign.” The ensuing inflammation Bumps and irritation on the skin are the result of the ensuing inflammation. Ideally, you should prevent razor bumps from forming in the first place by shaving correctly. “Don’t shave the same area more than once, especially with a multi-blade razor, because you’ll end up shaving the hair very short until it retracts into the black men’s skin care,” advises Dr. Hartman. Never shave too quickly, and always follow the growth direction.
There are dark spots
As a result of a higher level of melanin in darker black men’s skin care, dark spots, also known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, can appear on skin of any skin tone. Melanin comes out of the cell when you disrupt the skin after damage, says Dr. Hartman. More melanin in the skin means more chances for dark spots to form. The skin can be damaged by a wide range of things, including acne, ingrown hairs, sun damage, and even some skincare ingredients. Dr. McKinley-Grant suggests preventing inflammation in general to prevent dark spots. Admittedly, that’s Yes, that’s hard, especially when it comes to chronic acne. Darker skinned men are best served by products with low amounts of active ingredients. Hyperpigmentation can be treated both through treating the underlying causes and also by treating the actual dark spots.
An excess of oil
“Men tend to have thicker, oilier skin,” says Robinson, adding that men of color can have even thicker, more oily skin. I can see it as a benefit, especially when it comes to anti-aging. Dr. Hartman says our skin is thick enough to begin with and never thins. The higher oil content can cause acne and breakouts, however. According to Dr. Hartman, the natural tendency when dealing with oily black men’s skin care is to try to dry it out using harsh astringents, like witch hazel or alcohol. However, this is exactly what you are not going to want to do. By drying out your skin, it will result in more oil production. As an alternative, he suggests using an oil-free serum moisturizer to help your skin maintain its balance. Hydrating the skin with a lightweight moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid will reduce excess oil production without overwhelming the skin.
