Although you may desire something like a chemical peel, even a light one, you need to be aware that what’s in your genes matters. Though you may have blonde hair and blue eyes, if there’s a bit of Native American, Latin, Mediterranean, Asian or African American somewhere in the last few generations, you may find yourself scouring the internet wondering what post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (HIP) means when you are diagnosed with it.
PIH causes skin darkening or discoloration, which shows up as spots or patches on your body. This is the result of too much melanin, and is in response, or a reaction to, inflammation or an injury to the skin. It is most likely to occur with those whose skin is dark due to their ancestry, but all skin types are susceptible. And, though these spots fade after time, it can be embarrassing for a time. You may also find that you need another chemical called hydroquinone to counteract PIH that you wound up with as a result of having chemicals applied to your skin in the first place.
Chemical peels are a popular way of reducing things like fine wrinkles and acne scars. However, just because you have these things, doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re right for you. The same goes for dermabrasion. Again, those with darker skin types are at a higher risk of PIH than are those with lighter skin. It seems somehow unfair that ethnicity should play into something like cosmetic facial procedures, but we have our ancestors and luck to thank for this. However, there are some things that your cosmetic surgeon can recommend for those who may be at a higher risk of PIH, and this includes those who might consider their skin fair, but have someone with dark skinned ethnicity in their recent family tree.
When discussing the possibility of face peels or dermabrasion, your cosmetic surgeon may discuss lasers with you. Nonablative, diode, and Q-switched lasers may all be mentioned depending on what you would like to have done. Another aspect of this is that those with darker skin may have to have multiple treatments because the lasers will be on a low setting, or a light chemical peel may be the only option to avoid damaging your skin.
If you are interested in non-surgical face enhancements, such as chemical peels, facial fillers, or dermabrasion, please contact an experienced cosmetic surgeon in your area. Be willing to discuss your ancestry to find out if you are at a higher risk of PIH.
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