"Do your due diligence as a consumer make sure the person you are going to is well-versed on Black skin and skin of color. All skin of color was condensed to one chapter." Rather than relying on what she learned in school, Jackson-Sagirius sought continuing her education and looked for experts on melanated skin to grow her own knowledge. "There was only one chapter devoted to skin of color when I attended aesthetician school - not just Black skin. ![]() "Unfortunately, a lot of facialists do not have an education when it comes to treating dark skin and skin of color," licensed aesthetician Nikki Jackson-Sagirius says. And like in many other industries, much of the educational materials center white skin, so hiring other folks of color doesn't necessarily guarantee quality care alone. Many basic aesthetician programs are focused on teaching sanitation practices - which is also important, obviously, but the nuances of skin care can fall to the wayside. In a white-dominated industry, where only five percent of aestheticians are Black (and there's an even smaller portion of Black dermatologists), it's challenging to find a skin-care practitioner well-versed in treating Black skin. If you go to an aesthetician for a facial and they start introducing advanced techniques, you should be cautious." "Everything bothers skin, so you need to find someone experienced in treating our sensitive skin type. "You need to be selective about who is performing these treatments, because darker skin types are super reactive," says board-certified cosmetic and general dermatologist Rosemarie Ingleton, MD. That's because intense pulsed light is not safe for tanned or dark skin, which can absorb too much light and cause burns, hypopigmentation (lightened areas), hyperpigmentation (darkened areas), and scarring. "Just because a treatment is available does not mean it is right for your skin."Īccording to Duke Health, the treatment is considered safe, but it's not recommended for people with dark skin tones. Although it's not technically a laser - BBL uses intense pulsed light instead of the narrow beam of light of a laser - it is commonly marketed as a gentle laser treatment. ![]() Although BBL therapy is trending and the cosmetic laser market is projected to reach $4.1 billion by 2027, according to recent reports, other BIPOC women have had adverse reactions, too.Īlso known as a "photofacial," BBL therapy is an FDA-approved treatment designed to treat acne scars, sun spots, rosacea, wrinkles, and more. She's not the only Black customer to have had a bad experience with this type of treatment. Instead of leaving with rejuvenated skin, Doolin's body went into shock - and she says she wound up in the emergency room and was treated for first- and second-degree burns. While light therapy is commonly used to treat everything from blemishes to hyperpigmentation, the wrong type of laser, flawed application, or improper aftercare can leave permanent scarring. Monique Diaz Doolin learned this the hard way after receiving broadband light (BBL) therapy, offered to her as a no-risk "facial" by an aesthetician at a medical spa. As the skin-care industry expands, learning how to properly treat melanated skin is still too often an afterthought.
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