Dermatology and Skin Care Sciences

Ethnic Skin: Unique Considerations in Diagnosis and Treatment

Ethnic skin refers to the unique characteristics and considerations related to skin health and treatment in individuals with non-Caucasian ancestry. People of different ethnicities can have varying skin types, colors, and responses to treatments, making it essential for dermatologists to understand these differences when diagnosing and treating skin conditions.Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation that appears on the face, generally the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead and upper lip and sometimes on other sun-exposed parts of the body, such as the forearms. It is similar in appearance to age spots but the darker affected areas are larger. It is most common amongst dark skinned, Hispanic and Asian individuals: the incidence of Melasma in pregnant Mexican women has been reported to be as high as 80%. Read more about causes and treatment in Melasma.What differs between ethnicities is the level of melanocyte activity, combined with how the cells are made up and grouped together. It is these differences that result in different shades of skin. While skin of all colours can suffer from pigment disorders, they are most common, more noticeable and more of a concern for individuals of Asian, Hispanic or African origin.