In the quest for more attractive bodies and images, cosmetic professionals have come up with lots of great procedures to combat the effects of age as well as problems like acne and unsightly hair. And while some of these techniques used to be only appropriate for light skin tones, new developments have made them available and effective for African Americans as well.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
This treatment is conducted by running pulses of laser light over the affected part. It removes the top several layers of damaged skin, revealing new, fresher, and more uniform looking skin. This is an effective process for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and lines as well as hyper pigmentation or discoloration. It is most commonly used for the eye and mouth regions. Resurfacing is also great for reducing the look of acne scars. Because of the use of lasers, this method is able to remove more layers of skin than things like Microdermabrasion, making more dramatic results. While not all cosmetic surgeons will recommend this procedure for African Americans, there are those who specialize in treating Black tones with lasers and it can be helpful if done carefully and precisely. Longer laser pulses, rather than short ones, are best for treating hyper pigmentation in African Americans and there are special FDA approved ones designed for use on darker tones.
The after care should include the application of ice packs to minimize swelling. The cosmetic surgeon can also prescribe some medications to manage any pain or discomfort. The surgeon may also recommend the use of special ointments and creams to protect and soothe the new skin.
Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is a process that speeds up the natural peeling of the skins upper layers. The result is new, fresher looking tissues, particularly helpful in getting rid of acne scars. This treatment can be useful for African Americans but a few modifications are required. First, a primer should be applied to the face before the peel. Also the chemical solution should be prepared in a lower-strength concentration that it would be for a lighter tone. Lastly, the chemicals should not stay as long on dark skin as it would be on lighter tones.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is a procedure that gets rid of unwanted hair by using a powerful laser to destroy individual hair follicles. These lasers do this by targeting the melanin or dark pigments in the hair. This can present a problem for dark toned people as their melanin tends to absorb more of the pulse than those with light tones. This means there is a greater potential for the skin to burn, blister, or become discolored. Fortunately today, there are several lasers on the market that work well on African American complexions.
Cosmetic skin and hair procedures are a great way to improve self-confidence and make you feel better with your complexion. And now the benefits are not only limited to those with lighter tone, but with a few modifications and some special tools, African Americans can share in the cosmetic gains as well.
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