Category: Skin | 2-Minute Read
Melanin……This is the pigment produced by your skin cells.
The more melanin-producing cells you have, the more melanin is produced, the darker your skin tone. This also depends on the size and distribution of the melanin-producing cells.
This means that the Fitzpatrick skin type V has more melanin than skin type III and IV.
Why is this important?
Melanin is also the pigment that is produced when you tan in the sun…. which means that the sun aka UV radiation stimulates the production of melanin.
So UV radiation is a form of trauma to the skin and this means that the melanin-producing cells produce more pigment when traumatised, so if you have more of these cells i.e. Asian skin types or darker, then you are more likely to have more reactive pigmentation to trauma
For the skin-thusiasts out there, the medical term for increased pigment is “Hyper-pigmentation”.
So what have we learnt so far?
1) UV radiation is a form of trauma so we need protection from this by means of sunscreen.
2) Melanin is more likely to be produced in ethnic skin when it is traumatised, presenting a pigmentation spots or patches.
This is one of the reasons why Asian skin cannot be treated like Caucasian skin! The results of trauma are much more noticeable and long-lasting, therefore extra care that we avoid trauma is essential.
As a result of this, many in-clinic treatments may not be suitable for skin types IV-VI as the risk of hyperpigmentation is high!
This is why everyone is not an Asian skin specialist so before choosing a skincare product or a skin professional, first be certain that you are not causing trauma to your skin!
As always,
Prioritise yourselves!
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