Skin of Color: Ethnic Differences in Skin Architecture
Other differences are summarized in the following tables:
Objective Differences in Skin Structure and Physiology Based on Race (Semin. Cut. Med. Surg. 2009;28:115-2)
| Evidence supports: | Insufficient evidence* for: | Inconclusive: |
| • Increased melanin content and melanosomal dispersion in persons of color • Multinucleated and larger fibroblasts in black persons compared with white persons • pH black < white skin • Larger mast cell granules, increased parallel-linear striations, and increased tryptase localized to parallel-linear striations in black compared to white skin • Variable racial blood vessel reactivity | Racial differences in: • Skin elastic recovery/extensibility • Skin microflora • Facial pore size** | Racial differences in: • Transepidermal water loss • Water content • Corneocyte desquamation • Lipid content |
* Skin elastic recovery/extensibility, skin microflora, and pore size were labeled as ‘insufficient evidence for’ racial differences rather than 'inconclusive' because only two studies or less examined these variables
** Ethnic differences in the structural properties of facial skin. (J. Dermatol. Sci. 2009;53135-9)
Therapeutic Implications of Key Biologic Differences Between Races
| Biologic factor | Therapeutic implications |
|---|---|
| Epidermis •Increased melanin content, melanosomal dispersion in people with skin of color | •Lower rates of skin cancer in people of color •Less pronounced photoaging •Pigmentation disorders |
| Dermis •Multinucleated and larger fibroblasts in black persons compared with white persons | •Greater incidence of keloid formation in black persons compared with white persons |
| Hair •Curved hair follicle/spiral hairtype in black persons | •Pseudofolliculitis in black persons who shave compared with white persons •Use of hair products (e.g. relaxers) that may lead to hair and scalp disorders in black persons •Alopecia |
Ethnic Differences in Skin Properties. Textbook of Cosmetic Dermatology, 4th edition. 2010, p. 395-404
The bottom line is that differences in ethnic groups do exist, and research is still being done to elucidate what these differences are.
- Naissan Wesley, M.D.
Do you have questions about treating patients with darker skin? If so, send them to sknews@elsevier.com.
