People with dark skin require special skin care. According to Brownskin.net, melanin--the pigment that gives skin its color--makes black or brown skin extremely sensitive and prone to damage. Dark-skinned persons should treat their skin gently and only use skin care products that are right for their skin type. Unlike 50 years ago, today there are ample products on the market designed to address the particular needs of black skin.
Learn Your Skin Type
In order to care for your skin properly, it is essential to know the nature of your skin. As with skin of any color, black or brown skin can be oily, dry, a combination of the two or normal. Dry skin tends to feel taut and uncomfortable, the dryness often appearing an ashy-gray color. Oily skin is usually shiny, prone to acne, and has enlarged and clogged pores. If your forehead, nose and chin appear oily while the skin around your mouth is dry, you have combination skin. If you are uncertain about your skin type, see a dermatologist or skin technician.
Cleanse Skin Daily
Maintaining a good cleansing routine is critical for having healthy skin. Brownskin.net advises cleaning your face at least once a day with a cleanser suitable for your skin type. Because of the special sensitivity of black skin, you should not wash your face too often or too roughly. Harsh treatment of black or brown skin can lead to hyperpigmentation, or patches of darkened skin. Avoid products that may irritate the skin, including those containing fragrance, propylene glycol, dye, alcohol, lanolin and alpha-hydroxy acids in high concentrations. To give your face a healthy glow, you should also exfoliate dead skin once a week, taking care to test the exfoliation product on a small patch of skin first.
Wear Sunscreen
Although the presence of melanin in dark skin helps to protect against harmful UV rays from the sun, the American Academy of Dermatology advises people with black or brown skin to wear sunscreen, nonetheless. Skin cancer is not a widespread problem among darker-skinned folks, but according to DiscoveryHealth.com, when it does occur it is more deadly. Most black or brown skinned people should wear a sunscreen with a protection of SPF 15 on the face and 30 on the body. The protection should be generously applied 20 minutes before entering the sun, which gives the body time to absorb the product. Reapply the sunscreen after you've gone swimming or have been in the sun a few hours.
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