Hispanic and African American women make up nearly 45 percent of the Atlanta area’s women — and while they may have the same desire for more youthful skin as their lighter-skinned peers, they may find their resources lacking.

Unfortunately, many products are simply not suitable for naturally darker skin. Side effects range from ineffectiveness to permanent scarring or discoloration.

If you’re a woman of color, don’t despair! There are options when you work with a competent professional. One of the best treatment options for Hispanic or African American women for more youthful skin or treatment of specific issues is the VI Peel.

The VI Peel is a pharmaceutical-grade chemical peel that has been proven safe for darker skin types, unlike many of its chemical peel peers. Many peels are “too active” for women of color, including Asian American women.

What’s Your Skin Type?

The Fitzpatrick skin type is the most commonly used skin color classification in dermatology. It classifies skin type based on response to sun exposure.

Here are the skin types:

  • Type I: Always burns, never tans
  • Type II: Usually burns, then tans
  • Type III: May burn, tans well
  • Type IV: Rarely burns, tans well
  • Type V: Very rarely burns, tans well, brown skin
  • Type VI: Very rarely burns, tans well, very dark skin

Many skin treatments focus on types I-IV, meaning types V-VI can find limited information on how to improve their skin or find conflicting information. Talking to a qualified skin care professional is highly recommended for darker skin types.

What Makes the VI Peel Safe for Darker Skin?

The VI Peel has a combination of TCA, salicylic acid, Retin-A, and Phenol in a less than 15 percent concentration. That means the peel is self-neutralizing and safe for all skin types, unlike other chemical peels.

VI Peels come in a variety of intensities to focus on specific problems, and this is another win for women of color. Your skin care professional can adapt the VI Peel for your specific skin woe.

Interested in seeing the results with a variety of skin types? Click here.

About Jennifer

Jennifer Curtin is a medical aesthetician who is nationally recognized for her expertise in medical skin care. With more than 20 years of experience in medical aesthetics, she is dedicated to the aesthetic industry and has received awards of merit including the International CIDESCO Certification, Assistant Cosmetic Laser Practitioner and National Leadership Award. Jennifer is also an expert in skin tightening procedures and the president of Skintherapy, a med spa located in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. To schedule an appointment with Jennifer, call 404-358-2961 or click here.