Understanding and Tackling Common Issues for Skin of Colour
Uneven, skin tone and patchy discolouration are common problems for skin of colour.
For women and men with black, Asian or mixed-race skin, variation in colour can be very noticeable and tends to get worse with sun exposure. It is difficult to control with DIY at-home methods and solutions like bleaching creams can be counterproductive or even dangerous.
However, there are solutions.
Dr Barbara Kubicka, founder of Clinicbe Skin of Colour, specialises in treating challenging pigmentation problems for all tones of skin. Her experience includes working in Lagos, Nigeria for two years, where she opened a new skin clinic, giving her extensive first-hand knowledge of treating patients with non-Caucasian skin tones.
Pigmentation Treatment Case Study
A 57-year-old woman visited Dr Barbara Kubicka at Clinicbe Skin of Colour based in London, concerned about facial hyperpigmentation as a result of sun exposure. Over the counter skin care products had been ineffective, causing her confidence to deteriorate as her skin continued to worsen, impacting on her social life and self-esteem.
Dr Kubicka prescribed a tailor-made programme of treatment to improve the patient’s complexion, combining an at-home regime of ME LINE products which are designed for treating pigmentation and only available from selected skincare professionals. In addition, Dr Kubicka prescribed Obagi hydroquinone overnight cream to more intensively tackle the darker pigmentation areas. Then she recommended a series of professional peels.
Dr Kubicka explains:
“Skin of colour requires a completely different approach. TCA chemical peels, laser or IPL (intense pulsed light treatment) are often recommended by less knowledgeable aestheticians in the expectation that they will improve the complexion. However, when dealing with skin of colour, these treatments can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation – making the discolouration significantly worse. Patients with darker skin types are also more susceptible burns. The key is to manage the risks of any treatment while ensuring that it is effective.”
Treatment Results – A Visual Assessment
The ‘before and after’ photos illustrate a dramatic difference following the pigmentation treatment programme. The patches of darker discolouration (hyperpigmentation) on the forehead are barely noticeable and the skin is much more even, adopting a ‘medium’ skin tone throughout. The skin also looks younger, fresher and plumper. Fine lines are reduced, thanks to the promotion of new skin cells, making the complexion more youthful and radiant as well as more even in colour and tone
Dr Kubicka advises:
“Pigmentation is a challenging issue and treatment is not a ‘quick fix’. For best results, at-home skincare regimes must be carefully followed every day and all professional peels/masks applied as per the treatment programme. With ongoing attention, the skin will respond, so results develop over a couple of months.”
Aftercare and Follow-Up
The team at Clinicbe Skin of Colour usually recommend follow ups every 3 months. At-home regimes may be supplemented by further professional treatments where necessary, but this is rarely the case when a suitable ongoing regime is followed.
After the initial pigmentation treatment programme, it is important to select an appropriate maintenance skincare regime for use at home. The team at Clinicbe will make suitable recommendations.
In cases of pigmentation, ongoing sun protection is also required in order to prevent sun damage from recurring again in the future.
Treatment Results – Final Conclusion
The ‘before and after’ results show a clear difference with clearer and younger looking skin, but the changes were also of a deeper and more personal benefit, as the client’s inner confidence and self-belief increased as the results of tackling the pigmentation developed.
Armed with the knowledge of how to protect the skin from further damage, plus a suitable maintenance regime for use at home, she is now looking forward to enjoying clearer skin without the fear of the problem recurring in the future.
Clinicbe Skin of Colour
Clinicbe Skin of Colour offers a range of services for clients with skin of colour, including skin treatments, acne and hair loss. Pigmentation problems are a particular specialism for Dr Barbara Kubicka.
The clinic is based in Knightsbridge, London – easily accessible from Chelsea, Belgravia, Mayfair and Kensington.
To learn more or book an appointment, please contact our team:
- Telephone: 0207 125 0521
- Email: info@clinicbe.com.