30 day money back guarantee

30 day money back guarantee 30 day money back guarantee
0

Acne Treatments/Tips For African American Skin

  • Thanks for your fast shipping!
    -Kerri

  • What's your greatest skin care challenge?

    As women and a growing number of men of color, what's your greatest skin care challenge? Whether it's dark spots, uneven skin tone, dark circles,puffiness under your eyes or hair that won't grow, you'll find a product that can possibly become the solution to your challenge.

    Moisturizers and ingredients that hydrate your skin will always be your best friend, for your face, body and hair. So look for products with nourishing and nurturing ingredients. Shea butter, cocoa butter, mango butter and jojoba oils are a few of the ingredients to keep on your list.

    We've got new additions to our store for you. Essential oils have been known to help calm and soothe skin and scalp irritations. Although you'll find a sample kit on the hair category page, you can use them for any of your skin and hair care needs.

    The hair care sample kit has been given an upgrade. We've increased the size of the container on the shampoo and conditioners and added a hair butter sample to the mix.

    Although there's beauty in your blackness, your skin is sensitive and needs protection from the sun just like everyone else. So if you know you're challenged by sunburn, add a few drops of Lavender essential oil to Jojoba and Grapeseed Oil and create a nice body oil for yourself. It will bring comfort and beauty back to your skin.

    We're listening to you and your suggestions, so keep an eye on the category pages and your emails for updates. 

    Until next time ... 

    Dedicated To Your Beauty

Acne Treatments/Tips For African American Skin


If you are battling acne of one sort or another, you are in good company: regardless of race or gender, 80% of us between the ages of 11 and 30 will experience acne and many of us struggle with outbreaks well into middle age. There are two main types of acne:

Non-inflammatory acne – blackheads and whiteheads

Inflammatory acne – papules, nodules, pustules and cysts

Acne occurs when the pores on your skin become blocked with oil, dead skin, or bacteria. Each pore is the opening to a follicle. The follicle is made up of a hair and a sebaceous (oil) gland. The oil gland releases sebum (oil), which travels up the hair, out of the pore, and onto your skin. When the follicle of a skin gland clogs up, a pimple develops. Hormonal changes, heredity, cosmetics, medications and the foods you eat may all trigger an acne breakout.

Most acne is found on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. While it is not a serious health threat, it can cause scarring – and in black skin, which is more prone to hyperpigmentation, scarring is especially problematic.

Acne Treatment for Black/Dark Skin

Acne treatments are not race-specific, but in any event, I recommend consulting a dermatologist before embarking upon any acne treatment for African American skin (not least because common skin conditions like rosacea, staph infections and allergic reactions can be mis-identified as acne).

Once you have identified what kind of acne you have - and hopefully, the trigger(s) - your dermatologist will have the expertise to guide you in the long-term treatment and acne scar removal strategies, based on your skin type.

There are a number of Black skin care products for acne available, including:

Over-the-counter or dermatologist-prescribed Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl Peroxide is available in 2.5%, 4%, 5% or 10% formulations. It works by killing the bacteria, reducing inflammation and unplugging blocked pores. Start with the mildest formulation unless otherwise directed by your dermatologist.

Oral antibiotics (dermatologist prescribed)

Usually taken over a course of seven days. Be sure to complete the course – even if you think you’ve been healed! Topical antibiotic creams such as clindamycin can also help.

Retin A

Available over-the-counter cosmetically in low doses, but usually dermatologist-prescribed. Effective in unblocking pores.

Accutane (only available medically)

Used to treat extreme cystic (or nodular) acne when benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin treatments, for example, have proven ineffective.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C can indirectly prevent blocked pores and acne since it does get built into the tissues of the epidermis, the outer layer of your skin.

More vitamin C in the epidermis can also protect against the inflammation of acne by UV rays in the sun. Vitamin C is not a true “sunscreen” because unlike vitamin A it doesn’t directly protect cells against UV light.

However, its real power is just as potent against acne: vitamin C scavenges the large amounts of free radicals which sunlight can form. Free radicals from UV rays can be a notorious cause of acne.

Acne Prevention Tips

Don’t overwash/scrub: this can lead to more oil production and more problems.

Use only alcohol-free skin products: alcohol is drying and can aggravate skin already dried by benzoyl peroxide and similar formulations.

Use oil-free and non-comedogenic (non-clogging) cosmetics/skincare And avoid mineral or silicone-based products, regardless of the miracles they promise!

Keep your hands off your face! Must scratch that facial itch? Use a knuckle – it is likely to be cleaner than your fingertip.

Eat a well-balanced diet:
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Cut back on sugar (or try a natural sugar substitute – but avoid aspartame or stevia!)
  • Ditch dairy! (Sadly, dairy products have been proven to be acne triggers, but dermatologists say that Greek yoghurt is exempt from the list.)
  • Eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables: spinach, kale, broccoli are said to be the Big Three in promoting healthy skin.
  • Snack on antioxidant-rich berries: choose blueberries, cherries and goji berries for best results.
  • Enjoy dark chocolate in moderation (ensure it is made with at least 70% cacoa): this sweet treat contains zinc – another acne-fighting nutrient.
  • Eat pumpkin seeds (also chock full of zinc).
  • Drink green tea (famously loaded with healing antioxidants).

How to Clear Up Acne Scars

There is a dizzying array of black skincare products for acne scar removal/hyperpigmentation. Note that many over-the-counter products, manufactured for this purpose, contain harmful mercury – these are banned in the USA and several other countries, but some may still find their way to smaller stores. Be vigilant about reading the fine print when choosing a scar removal/ fade product.

The following is a short list of treatments you can safely use (preferably, under the direction of a dermatologist) to fade/reduce the appearance of acne scars:

Hydroquinone

While this is perhaps the most well-known treatment, you should proceed with caution. Some studies have shown a link between hydroquinone and certain cancers. Its use in skin care products is actually banned in most European countries. Dermatologists will usually approve only ‘medical-grade’ formulations in either liquid or cream form. Misuse of hydroquinone (it is only intended for short term use on small areas) can lead to a blue-blackening of the skin (ochronosis), so if you decide to use it, be sure you follow directions exactly as given.

Kojic Acid (derived from mushroom extract) and Arbutin (bearberry extract)

These two products are commonly used in hydroquinone-free formulations and can be found in soaps, creams and serums.

Skin Resurfacing

Performed by dermatologists using either filler injections (every 4 – 6 months) or ablative lasers. These techniques can soften and flatten raised acne scars or keloid scars.

Stay out of the sun

Please! Especially if you are using a hydroquinone product. And in any event, use a sunscreen of at least SPF30 to protect delicate skin and prevent re-darkening of scars.

Don’t pick or squeeze!

Picking can lead to further scarring - and the depositing of bacteria from fingertips and under the nails can cause another round of acne.

Do NOT use Vitamin E on scars

Contrary to what you may have heard, Vitamin E is not good for scars. According to a study out of the University of Miami, Vitamin E may actually hinder healing. In the study, Vitamin E had no effect or made matters worse for 90% of patients – and 33% developed contact dermatitis.

Don’t despair – the right acne treatment for you is out there. Let the medical experts guide you and have patience.

Good luck!

That's it for this week! As always ...

Dedicated To Your Beauty,

Juliette Samuel

Esthetician/Author/Publisher

Nyraju Skin Care