Native American Skin Care
Native American skin care is a topic that should be relatively close to your heart if you belong to any one of the many Native American tribal nations in the USA. As women, we are always seeking ways to improve the look and texture of our skin – because it’s the first things that people notice about us.
It is important to know, however, that finding effective skin care solutions can sometimes be tricky due to the number of common skin issues that women with a darker complexion often deal with.
Native American Skin Care Issues
Native American women come in a great many shades of skin color that range from a sun kissed tan color to a dark mocha – depending on their genetics, location and regular sun exposure. While it is hard to prescribe a skin care regimen that will bring out the best skin for all Native American women, it is important that you know about Native American skin care issues and what you can do to address them.
Melasma
A pigment disorder that is often a problem for Native American women, Melasma is a condition in which problems exist inside the cells that store and produce the pigment Melanin. These irregular cells cause areas of irregular grey or brown marks to appear on the facial skin where there weren’t any before. Melasma presentation varies – some people marks are small and resemble freckles while others have larger, more noticeable patches.
Melasma has various different levels and not all of them are treatable. Epidermal Melasma occurs only on the first few upper layers of skin and can is treatable, however, Dermal Melasma, which effects many of the deeper layers of skin cannot be not cared for.
Treatment for this condition includes various prescribed medications that include hydroquine, azelaic acid, trentinoin, and even glycolic acid. Your doctor may even also choose to treat this Native American skin care problem by suggesting microdermabrasion treatment or a chemical peel to help bring clear healthy skin to the surface.
Vitiligo
Another common Native American skin care issue is Vitiligo, which is a condition that essentially destroys the cells that make the melanin pigment. The destruction of these cells causes bleaching and discoloration of the skin and presents as white patches on the skin. In most cases, those who deal with this skin care issue will see its effects before age 20 and according to extensive medical research, it is a hereditary condition passed down from parents to children.
This condition has a wide range when it comes to severity. Some patients only experience it on a small scale in a few places while in others, the telltale while patches may cover 60 or more percent of their body. Needless to say, due to the nature of the condition, it can be hard to treat – and the more severe the case the less effective treatments will be.
Treatment for this condition include surgical skin grafts, topical creams, corticosteroid injections, phototherapy treatments, laser treatments and possibly depigmentation meds such as hydroquinone and monobenzylether.
While many of these treatments are effective to some degree, certain severe cases may not see results, in which case patients also have the option to use ‘camouflage’, such as heavily pigmented make-ups and cream to disguise visible patches on the skin.
Acne
Like women of other races, one of the most disheartening Native American skin care issues is acne. In women of color, acne can prevent you from having the smooth, beautiful complexion you are looking for. This condition, which in many cases is genetic, can range from moderate to severe and can be found almost anywhere on the body.
Different from acne that affects lighter skinned women, acne in dark skinned women causes more of an issue due to the scarring and discoloration of the skin that follows a breakout, which are often long lasting or permanent.
If you are prone to suffering from bouts of acne, utilizing a range of effective treatments can help make this common Native American skin care issue no longer a problem for you. A visit with your dermatologist will help you determine how severe your acne is and what the best course of treatment will be.
In many cases, topical treatments such as antimicrobials and antibiotics are effective for reducing skin inflammation and surface pimples caused by acne. In more severe cases, oral antibiotics paired with topical treatments can help prevent acne from the inside as well. Your doctor may also prescribe topical or oral retinoid to further reduce skin irritation, dry oily skin and heal skin lesions caused by the acne.
Hyper KeratosisA sometimes embarrassing Native American skin care problem is the development of Hyper Keratosis, which is a thickening of the skin that is a result of the build-up of keratin. Common in women of color, the thickening is essentially a ‘defense mechanism’ that the body uses to protect itself against irritation, friction and pressure.
Most often patches of Hyper Keratosis will form on areas of the body that experience the most friction that include the elbows, knees, thighs, palms and heels –although it can affect other areas of the body from time to time. The condition itself is not painless, however it can cause discoloration which is often embarrassing and noticeable.
Treatment of Hyper Keratosis will vary dependent on your doctor and the severity, however, in the majority of cases your care will include softening the hard thickening skin and removing the unnecessary build up. This is done through the use of topical medications and creams paired with the use of a skin lightening cream to treat and prevent any skin discoloration that may occur as a result of the treatment or of the condition itself.
If you are a beautiful, bronze-skinned woman, it is important that you make Native American skin care a priority in your life. Many of the issues listed here are common among Native American women and recognizing them can make a huge difference in the health and beauty of your skin.
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