SKIN CARE INFORMATION Keep ethnic skins beautiful

Here are some useful tips for properly caring for darker skins in order to prevent damage.
Cleanse skin daily to remove dirt, oil and makeup but avoid abrasive cleansers or products (puffs, luffas), which can irritate skin of color. Irritation may lead to disfiguring hyper-pigmentation.
Use products designed for your skin type but avoid those that contain potential irritants such as fragrance, alcohol, propylene glycol, dye and lanolin.
Don't overdo it. Cleansing too often or too roughly will harm brown skin.
Avoid using home microdermabrasion and chemical peel kits too roughly. They should be used according to the directions and discontinued if any irritation occurs.
Exfoliate to remove dull, dead skin cells by using exfoliating hydroxy acids found in skin products but test the product on a small patch of skin first.
Apply an oil-free moisturizer with antioxidants (for an anti-aging regimen).
Use a sunscreen daily, at least SPF 30 on the face. In addition to sunburn, skin cancer and skin discoloration may be caused by the sun. If you have oily skin, the sunscreen may suffice
Sources include Terry Dunn, M.D., of Berkeley and Susan Taylor, M.D., author of "Brown Skin: Dr. Susan Taylor's Prescription for Flawless Skin, Hair and Nails"
Knight Ridder Newspapers