Acne affects people with black skin in the same proportions that people with lighter skin encounter. Acne can be caused by several factors such as hormonal imbalance, stress, diet, and cleanliness. There are some differences between black and light skin that do need to be considered.

Black skin is more sensitive than light skin. The main reason for the increased sensitivity is the presence of melanin. Melanin is a skin pigmentation that produces skin tone darker in appearance that light skin. Black skin that is sensitive requires a bit more care in choice of acne treatment options.

The best treatment for acne is prevention if at all possible. Because of the hormonal foundation of acne, you should first look at healthy diet options that will do two things. First, a good diet will give your system healthy nutrients to fight off unwanted increases in hormone production. Second, a good diet helps you to flush toxins that can produce excessive oil production and infections from occurring. Reduce your stress levels by increasing physical activity and exercise. Cleanliness is another essential element is preventing acne from either occurring or getting worse once you have it. Wash your face no more than two to three times per day. Keep your hands clean as well and avoid touching your face with your hands as much as possible. Keep your bedding and pillow cases washed regularly. All these activities will help in your efforts to prevent an acne breakout.

If prevention does not work, and acne is present there are some very effective acne treatment options that work well on black skin. Black skin tends to exhibit more inflammatory forms of acne. This means that more papules and pustules form, but not as many nodules and cysts.

Try washing your face with mild cleansers. The use of milk or yogurt is a great for the sensitivity exhibited by black skin. These types of cleansers will also insure that the levels of melanin in your skin will not be adversely affected. You may also want to try using oatmeal masks.

After cleansing, it is good to use a good skin toner to help clean your pores and reduce the size of the pores. You should avoid any toners that contain alcohol because alcohol can adversely affect the pigmentation of your skin. Good toning agents are products contain Vitamin E. Cocoa butter is a fantastic choice. Some other good natural toners are: apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and witch hazel.

Another form of treating your acne and improving your skin is to keep your skin properly moisturized. Try applying a light application of extra virgin olive oil to your skin for moisture. This will keep your skin moist, but avoid making it over oily.

You may want to try topical applications and products in addition to the natural treatments that have been discussed. Products containing benzoyl peroxide will aid in clearing up your acne, but you may suffer from some change in pigmentation of your skin. When in doubt, always contact a dermatologist or your physician.

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