The Best Laser Treatments for BIPOC and Darker Skin Tones, According to an Aesthetician and a Dermatologist
glamour.com, I recently became interested in finding the best laser treatments to even out my skin tone. In my preliminary research, I quickly learned that some lasers can be dangerous for me to use.
I'm Asian-American and although my skin is a light olive tone, I'm a Fitzpatrick 4 on the —a numerical classification used by dermatologists to categorize skin tone and color—which puts me at higher risk of damage from certain lasers.
Popular treatments like (IPL) and broadband light (BBL) therapy can be dangerous for BIPOC and darker skin tones.According to , MSN, APRN, FNP-C, of in Southern California, laser skin care was initially designed for lighter skin tones, and can damage more melanated skin, potentially causing burns, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, or even scarring.“Historically, laser treatments weren’t always inclusive when it came to different skin tones, particularly for melanated skin,” says Dorantes. “Lasers work by targeting pigment, so with darker skin, there's naturally more melanin and pigment.
Some lasers can't distinguish well between the pigment in the skin and the treatment target—like hair follicles, age spots, or blood vessels.
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