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The Best Treatments for Acne in Skin of Color

May 10, 2022 Tags:

african american woman with acne touching her face

In a recent interview with Dermatology Times®, Adebola Dele-Michael, MD, shared her recommendations for putting basics and breakthroughs together to help patients of color safely achieve and maintain clear skin. 

To clear acne lesions, discoloration, scarring, and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), Dele-Michael recommends consulting a dermatologist about oral acne medication. Once the oral regimen is complete, she recommends combining topical solutions with a very light chemical peel. Chemical peels can help address discoloration, but you don’t want to go with an aggressive peel that would penetrate too deeply into the skin. Combining a chemical peel with new products such as Cyspera, which addresses discoloration and hyperpigmentation, helps shorten the treatment course.

For treating scarring, laser technology works wonders. In addition to a growing menu of lasers that safely treat skin of color, technologies such as radiofrequency devices combined with microneedling can provide options for treating scarring and PIH. A treatment that Dele-Michael has used to help restore collagen and elastin around scarring “without complications of discoloration” and that causes little or no thermal damage is Morpheus8, which uses four different microneedling tips to penetrate up to 8 mm.

Dele-Michael also recommends products such as La Roche-Posay, CeraVe, and Neutrogena for at-home use, stating, “I advise patients to stay away from products that [contain] benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid for home use because sometimes they can be a bit too much. They can actually damage the skin microbiome.” 

Are you interested in a chemical peel, laser treatment, or Morpheus8 radiofrequency microneedling to address your acne? The experts at Dr. J. J. Wendel Plastic Surgery are here to help! Schedule a consultation today to get started on the road to clear skin.

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