| Black Skin |
Black skin
Black skin varies in shade and tone from light brown to medium brown to dark brown. The colour is determined by the amount of *melanin (natural pigment) in the skin which can vary dramatically and depends largely upon a person's heritage, this may include; African, Caribbean, Indian, Native Australian, African American, Native American, Asian, Latino, or Middle and Far Eastern. Asian skin is subdivided into; Chinese, Japanese and Koreans (East Asian), Indonesian, Maysian, Singaporean, Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian (Southeast Asian) and Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis (South Asian) . The East Asian skin tends to be lighter in shade than South and South East Asian skin.
Black skin contains large amounts of melanin and absorbs far more ultra violet light than does a white skin, this provides increased protection, reducing the risk of sunburn, skin cancer and other lesions that form in response to UV exposure. The skin may appear thicker as there is more collagen present in the dermis. Ageing effects are delayed and collagen and elastin degeneration is very slow allowing the skin to look smooth and remain supple for much longer than other types. As black skin ages, it may become irregularly pigmented, this shows up as dark patches on the skin. Irregular pigmentation can also be caused by inflammation, if an area of the skin becomes inflamed or irritated from something such as an acne pustule, a brown area can be left behind as the redness or inflammation subsides. Sweat and sebaceous glands are larger and more numerous and they are situated closer to the surface of the skin, this accounts for the oily open pored appearance of many black skins. If this skin type becomes dry however it can have an ashen appearance from dead skin cells that are ready to be removed. Black skin has a greater risk of developing keloid scars - scars that form after injury or trauma to the skin, but become abnormally large. Trauma may include such things as; cuts, insect bites, surgery, ear piercing, a tattoo or even an ingrown hair. Black skin is more prone to a benign skin condition called Dermatosis papulosa nigra. It is a harmless condition commonly affecting the faces of black and sometimes Asian adults. The cause is unknown, although about half of people affected have a family history of the disorder. It appears on the skin as a number of smooth, raised, dark brown to black bumps occurring more often on the cheeks and forehead but sometimes they may also appear on the neck and trunk. The severity of the condition may be classified by the number of lesions on the skin:
Women are affected more than men and it usually begins in adolescence, the number and size of lesions increasing with age. No treatment is required as this condition is harmless. If, however, they are removed by a medical practitioner, great care must be taken to avoid scars and loss of pigment in the skin.
*Melanin is the skin's natural pigment it is also responsible for the colour of hair and the iris of the eye. Exposure to the sun stimulates the production of melanin which provides a certain amount of protection against UVR ( Ultra Violet radiation). It is just as important to protect the skin from ultra violet radiation and an spf of at least 15 should be used when exposing the skin to the sun. Large brimmed hats and sunglasses may be worn for added protection and it is advisable not to go out in the sun between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm without protection. Changes in the skin should be noted and medical advice sought if there are obvious changes occurring. Changes to look for are: - A mole that is asymmetrical ie if a line was drawn down the middle it would be a different shape on either side. - Areas of skin or a mole that has a rough or raised uneven border - Multi coloured moles - A mole that becomes larger in diameter
Vitligo is a condition that affects all skin types but it is more noticeable on darker skin colours. It is a condition that affects the melanocytes and no melanin is produced, causing areas of white skin to appear. Camouflage makeup may be used on small areas but medical advice may be necessary if the vitiligo affects large areas. It is thought to be caused by an autoimmune disorder and it is considered by some to be a hereditary condition. |
These combinations can produce an endless array of skin colour but there are several characteristics that are common to all black skin: