When you think of skin care, naturally “man” doesn’t come to mind. The first things that come to mind when it comes to skin care are women, models, and everything to do with fashion and beauty. The truth is that many men take great pride in having healthy skin just as women do. A trip to the spa for a massage is not out of the ordinary for many men who pat themselves on the back for their impeccable manicures and glowing skin. Black men have to pay special attention to their skin because they are more prone to ingrown hair, dark circles, keloids, and dry skin.
Ingrown Hair Problems
Black men with more coarse hair are susceptible to ingrown hair and razor bumps. Ingrown hairs can be painful and can result in infection or even permanent scarring. This is less common in men with fairer skin or hair that is not as coarse.
To relieve this problem, men should use a facial cleanser before shaving (glycolic). Exfoliation with a cleanser should soften the skin to allow for easier removal if you’re brave enough to do so with a good pair of tweezers.
Dark Circles
Many men suffer from those “crescent” shaped dark circles under their eyes. While in Caucasians, this is normally due to a lack of sleep, veins being exposed through delicate skin, or allergies, for many black males this is due to superficial pigmentation.
There are a variety of treatments available including creams to lighten the area, laser resurfacing, or even surgery to remove the excess skin. Creams may remove the discoloration, but not the puffiness, and surgery will remove the puffiness, but not the discoloration.
Some men turn to eye creams containing shea butter, which has shown to reduce skin discolorations and diminish fine lines. Others resort to foundation made for men to even out the skin tone and some just live with it.
Dry Skin
This certainly is not a condition that black men alone deal with, but dry skin can give a dusty appearance to darker skin tones. If you suffer from dry skin, a moisturizer is highly recommended.
Keloids
Often confused with cancer, keloids are masses of scar tissue, which can occur after a cut or infection. It can also result from acne that is irritated. Black men are more prone to keloids because their skin has a significant amount of melanin.
Normal treatment for keloids is cortisone or interferon injections. Cryosurgery or laser resurfacing is also an option. To reduce the formation of keloids, it is recommended that you treat any cuts or abrasions immediately. A visit to your physician is also recommended if you notice any abnormal skin discoloration.
No matter the color, men have to take special care of their skin in order to keep it vibrant and healthy.
