Dark Skins: Do They Get Sun Damage?

Ah, sun damage… It happens to everyone’s skin, yes, even dark skin. And we mean everybody. So while we’re all lucky to enjoy a gorgeously sunny climate, it’s not so hot for our faces. Individuals with paler skin tones (Fitzpatrick 1 and 2) are at the highest risk of burning, sun damage, and skin cancer.

And, those with darker skin – Fitzpatrick 5 and 6 – aren’t immune to the sun’s sting either. While less likely to suffer from sun damage, it’s known to be late-stage if diagnosed with skin cancer. And the later the stage, the greater the concern. Back to sun damage. Hyperpigmentation can affect many skin tones. However, it’s often more intense and can last longer for Fitzpatrick types 5 and 6.

Dark Skins and Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is one of the five most commonly diagnosed skin conditions in darker skin. And it’s not that it’s harmful, but it is known to cause psychological stress and anxiety. That’s why its treatment is so necessary. A specialist aesthetic doctor is your first port of call – not all pigmentation is created equal. Melasma (hormonal pigmentation) is a chronic condition, requiring lifelong management. Across the face, patchiness appears, resulting in an uneven skin tone.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is another challenge for individuals with darker skin, particularly when the sun is present. This darkening of the skin occurs in an area of skin that has been injured. A cut, scrape, bite, or even chronic rubbing can be culprits. Your healthcare expert may also need to check for iron pigment left behind when old red blood cells die. However, it’s very often acne that’s to blame. Remember, breakouts are inflammatory, so once your spot has healed, you may be left with a dark spot. This will fade with time, yet it can take longer than usual to disappear. 

Your Guide to Gorgeous Skin

Once you understand your pigmentation better, you’ll know how to treat it. Heard about light and laser therapy for pigmentation? This is where you need real expertise guiding you on your laser journey. A new breed of these treatments – like Laser Genesis and Titan – is less invasive. Specifically for PIH, this type of laser and long-pulsed Nd Yag means far less risky results. Rather than researching traditional methods like peels or microdermabrasion, focus on safe lasers. Once you have this type of therapy for breaking up pigmentation, treat it topically. That means hitting it deep with a laser and then following up with skin-surfacing exfoliation. Smoothing on an SPF is just as important. Probably the most critical step.