The Skin of Color Seminar Series (SOCSS) is the largest CE event dedicated to trending evidence-based research and new practical pearls for treating skin types III – VI. Each year, esteemed faculty provide attendees with fresh, practical pearls that are immediately useful in their practice.
In 2017, co-chairs Eliot Battle, MD and Andrew Alexis, MD gave their insight on everything from PIH to Lasers and everything in between.
3 Practical Pearls from Dr. Eliot Battle:
- Don’t rely on most parameters supplied by the laser manufacturers. Treat more conservatively. Minimize erythema or edema.
- Inconsistent laser treatments on skin of color include: Vascular Lasers, IPL (on Skin Type V & VI) and Resurfacing Lasers (on Skin Type V & VI).
- When treating patient with skin of color, stay under the erythema threshold. Longer wavelengths, lower fluences, longer pulse durations, maximize cooling. Skin Cooling – Thermal side effects happens when the epidermis heats up > 45 degrees. Treat all Skin of Color patients at max. of 1 hertz.
3 Practical Pearls from Dr. Andrew Alexis:
- Ethnicity does not predict skin color.
- Given that PIH can occur as a sequela of acne itself, or as a complication of treatment, treatment regimens must not only be aggressive enough to reduce inflammation and other pathogenic factors, but also well tolerated so that irritation is avoided.
- Daily hair washing, especially with most prescription shampoos, is often associated with increased hair dryness and breakage; it is also very time consuming for most women of African descent due to common styling practices.