ALL CLEAR
Most acne treatments come with a ‘buyer beware’ warning for black skin. But a laser therapy being rolled out in the UK has the perfect wavelength setting to treat melanin-rich skin
COMPILED BY KATE LOCKETT
PHOTO: STOCKSY
Over a third of UK adults suffer from acne at some point in their lives, and 3.5 million will seek professional help. However, energy-based machines that are typically used to treat active acne can damage melanin-rich skin if the wavelength used is too penetrative. Similarly, the incorrect depth or intensity of a chemical peel or microneedling treatment can lead to scars and hyperpigmentation, so it’s important to research not only the treatment but the experience of the practitioner.
Here, we weigh up how inclusive the new AviClear laser really is, and speak to experts about how best to treat scarring on black skin.