Acne and Race
Acne may be a skin
condition that cuts across boundaries of age, gender and ethnicity, but in
that last case, it does affect people of different races in appreciably
different ways. Some races are
more susceptible to certain types of acne, and certain severities of acne,
than others, for one reason or another.
Caucasians
Acne is extremely
common among those of Caucasian descent, with a substantial 95 percent of
Caucasians experiencing acne during their lifetimes.
Lighter skin is more prone to the formation of nodules and cysts,
which dermatologists recognize as the most serious of acne blemishes.
This may also be a function of climate, but Caucasians also tend to
have dryer skin, which makes it more difficult to use peeling and drying
treatments. Also, the redness of
the acne lesions stands out much more on fair skin.
Fortunately for Caucasians, these red blotches afflict them less
often than on people of other complexion types, and fade relatively quickly
if they are cared for properly.
Asians
The markings left
behind by acne outbreaks after the lesions heal remain for longer on Asian
skin than on other skin colors, so the aftermath of an acne affliction tends
to be the most challenging time for an Asian person.
The hyperpigmentation, as these marks are called, lingers long enough
to be considered relatively permanent, and as such, Asians benefit best from
having themselves treated professionally instead of waiting for these marks
to fade away. Asians also tend
to be more susceptible to keloid scarring from acne.
Africans
Black-skinned
individuals typically contend with inflammatory acne, characterized by
pustules and papules, or raised bumps on the skin that may or may not be
filled with fluid, as opposed to non-inflammatory acne, which manifests as
blackheads and whiteheads.
Fortunately, the worst types of inflammatory acne, cysts and nodules, are
less prevalent in black skin, and thus the lesions are not as severe.
Like Asians, black-skinned persons have quite a bit of trouble with
the markings left behind by acne, which some dermatologists claim are even
worse than the acne itself due to the level of disfigurement.
Hair care products of
black-skinned people tend to be greasier and more likely to instigate acne,
which leads to a phenomenon dermatologists refer to as pomade acne – the
type of the skin condition caused by contact with the skin by these
products. Acne formation is
concentrated along the person’s hairline, or in places where one’s hair
touches the skin.
Latinos
Latino skin is also
more vulnerable to post-acne marking, but is otherwise unremarkable in the
incidence of acne outbreaks.
Overall
Though acne does
manifest with slight differences depending on race, the treatment methods
across skin color types is relatively uniform.
Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are still the core ingredients
for any solution that is used to combat acne formation and help prevent it
from recurring. Moreover,
regardless of one’s race, a daily cleansing regimen with mild soap or
special noncomedogenic cleanser should do wonders in keeping acne
afflictions away.
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