Cosmetic Procedures in Patients with Skin of Color: Clinical Pearls and Pitfalls

Mansee Desai; Jasmine Gill; Janiene Luke

Cosmetic Procedures in Patients with Skin of Color: Clinical Pearls and Pitfalls

J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2023 Mar;16(3):37-40.

Authors

Mansee Desai¹, Jasmine Gill², Janiene Luke¹

Affiliations

¹ Drs. Desai and Luke are with the Department of Dermatology at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California.
² Ms. Gill is a medical student at California University of Science and Medicine in Colton, California.

PMID: 36950048
PMCID: PMC10027327

Abstract

Over time, cosmetic procedures have continued to grow in popularity and patients seeking these procedures have expanded to include more patients with skin of color. However, not all cosmetic procedures are created equally and it is important to understand the nuances associated with treating darker skin types. This review aims to provide clinical pearls and pitfalls when performing the following procedures in skin of color: chemical peels, microneedling, injectables (botulinum toxin and fillers), and laser treatments. These procedures have been demonstrated to be safe in skin of color as long as certain precautions are taken into consideration.

Keywords: Skin of color; chemical peels; injectables; lasers; microneedling; pearls; pitfalls; procedural dermatology.

Publication types

Review