This could lead to irritation, dermatitis,
and, you guessed it, the dreaded PIH.
A client with skin of color may not be
as diligent with sunscreen use because
they have not suffered from a sunburn.
Skin of color may not show a sunburn, but
the DNA in the cells is damaged by the UV
light just the same. Latinxs are the fastest-
growing segment of our population for skin
cancer.
10
UVA rays break down the skin
and age it, no matter the ethnicity. Many
clients with skin of color are resistant to
physical-block SPF products because the
micronized zinc can leave an ashy appearance
and does not blend well. Manufacturers
are becoming aware of this, and there has
been some progress in the technology.
Notes
1. Kristen Bialik, "For the Fifth Time in a Row,
the New Congress is the Most Racially and
Ethnically Diverse Ever," February 8, 2019,
www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/02/08/
for-the-fifth-time-in-a-row-the-new-congress-is-
the-most-racially-and-ethnically-diverse-ever.
2. Lise Funderburg, "The Changing Face of
America," National Geographic (October
2013), www.nationalgeographic.com/
magazine/2013/10/changing-face-america.
3 . Hae-Jung Hong and Yves Doz, "L'Oréal
Masters Multiculturalism," Harvard Business
Review (June 2013), www.hbr.org/2013/06/
loreal-masters-multiculturalism.
4. William Montagna and Kay Carlisle, "The
Architecture of Black and White Facial
Skin," Journal of the American Academy of
Dermatology 24, no. 6 (June 1991): 929–37,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1714469.
5. WebMD, "How Race Can Matter in Type 2
Diabetes," accessed November 2019, www.
webmd.com/diabetes/type-two-diabetes-race#1.
6. American Heart Association, "High Blood
Pressure and African Americans," last reviewed
October 31, 2016, accessed November 2019, www.
heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/
why-high-blood-pressure-is-a-silent-killer/
high-blood-pressure-and-african-americans.
7. Cleveland Clinic, "Breast Cancer Facts: Ethnicity
& Race: The Role of Ethnicity & Race in Breast
Cancer Risk," accessed November 2019, https://
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10310-
breast-cancer-facts-ethnicity--race.
8. Maulik G. Shah and Howard I. Maibach,
"Estrogen and Skin: An Overview,"
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
2, no. 3 (June 2001): 143–50, www.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11705091.
9. Ana C. Handel, Luciane D. B. Miot, and Hélio A.
Miot, "Melasma: A Clinical and Epidemiological
Review," Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia
89, no. 5 (Sep–Oct 2014): 771–82, www.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4155956.
10. Cliff Despres, "3 Big Reasons Skin Cancer
is Skyrocketing Among Latinos," May
27, 2019, www.salud-america.org/
latinos-face-skin-cancer-risk.
Be Inclusive!
If you are not treating
multiethnic skin, you are
missing out on a lucrative
revenue stream for your
esthetics practice. Getting
educated is the first step
toward gaining confidence
and the skills you'll need to
provide esthetics services for
your clients with skin of color.
