Acne and specifically inflammatory acne is a common affliction for those of Asian ethnicity. Asian skin has an increased amount of melanin (the pigment in skin) compared to white or caucasian skin. Skin cells producing melanin tend to be more sensitive to any type of inflammation or injury.
Acne. Asian skin produces more oil due to the warmer climates of the regions. As a result, Asians are more vulnerable than others to acne outbreaks. In most cases, the breakouts are keloids, hardened bumps.
Acne is the most common dermatological diagnosis in non-Caucasian patients. In a community-based photographic study, clinical acne was found to be highly revalent in Black/African American (37%), Hispanic/Latina (32%), and Asian (30%) women, more so than in Continental Indian (23%) and White/Caucasian (24%) women.
While certain acne treatments can be too irritating for sensitive, Asian skin (more on that below!) 2 of the most effective acne treatment ingredients—Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid – are both safe and effective in treating acne in Asian skin when used in the right (mild) doses.
The secret is that Asian skin has a thicker dermis (the layer of skin that contains collagen and elastin). And the more collagen and elastin you have, the fewer wrinkles you get. But it's important to use beauty products that take special care to preserve this innate anti-aging property.
Although Asian skin is undoubtedly more “yellow” than any other, they exhibit great variability according to territory and latitude, ranging from a very pale skin tone, like in Korea or Japan, to an ultra-dark appearance, such as Thailand, South China or India.
Asian and black skin has thicker and more compact dermis than white skin, with the thickness being proportional to the degree of pigmentation. This likely contributes to the lower incidence of facial rhytides in Asians and blacks.
In Korea, dermatologists focus on hydration and moisture barrier support to prevent blemishes.
The in-office procedure is this: Cleanse and exfoliate: a Korean 2- to 3-step cleansing process using either a cream or scrub-type cleanser, depending on skin type. Tone: a simple cotton pad swipe to balance pH levels on the skin. Gently massage face with a serum that hydrates and nourishes the skin.
Finally, megastar Suzy told that her secret to getting rid of pimples is that she dedicates 10 minutes to give her face a massage with the cleanser. As you can see these all k-pop idols have something in common, they all take care of their skin by cleansing, toning and hydrating every day.
Although there were no differences in total number of acne visits across racial/ethnic groups, Hispanic patients were less likely (odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% CI, 0.70-0.88) and black patients were more likely (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.09-1.31) to be seen by a dermatologist than white patients in adjusted analyses.
According to The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 22% of adult women are affected by acne, compared to less than 5% of adult men.
Acne in families
One study has found that if both your parents had acne, you're more likely to get more severe acne at an early age. It also found that if one or both of your parents had adult acne, you're more likely to get adult acne too.
Asians are a population with various skin phototypes, ranging from type III to IV Fitzpatrick's classification in Chinese and Japanese to type IV and V in Indian and Pakistani people. Asian skin tends to present postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, lentigines and freckles, nevus of Ota, and Hori nevus.
Acne in Latino patients occurs most commonly, but not exclusively, on the lower face. “We have also seen this on the neck and chest,” she noted. A thorough history – including a rundown of hair and skin products the patient is using – is critical.
Seriously, Japanese people have acne too, they aren't aliens from another planet. I'm pretty sure they know what it is to be in your shoes at times, I had a Japanese friend who had acne.
When it comes to skincare, Cho says Korean women use “natural skin brighteners such as rice extracts, vitamin C, and licorice, as well as exfoliators. For stubborn brown spots, they will visit the dermatologist to lighten the brown spots using lasers.”
Korean skin care focuses on using natural ingredients and is ahead of the game in beauty product innovation. American skin care has traditional creams and toners but Korean skincare is unique. Korean skin care products have many forms - puddings, jelly creams, hydrating gels, peeling gels, sheet masks, etc.
Popping pimples releases dopamine
A lot of people find popping pimples satisfying. After feeling and hearing that “pop”, some people get an immediate sensation of pleasure and relief. That's because dopamine — the happy-hormone — is released when you feel a sense of accomplishment.
Skincare is More Important than Makeup
Since ancient times, Koreans have only used natural, harsh-free ingredients for their skincare routines: green tea, “snail slime”, bamboo extracts, propolis, and honey are just some examples of the elements they used and have passed through generations.
There's no sure way to prevent acne. But these tips might help reduce the number and severity of your breakouts: Washing your skin is the most important thing you can do. It helps remove excess surface oils and dead skin cells that can clog your pores.
It is proposed that the sebaceous glands that cause acne are present on the face and forehead as they confer a selective advantage by 'lubricating' the widest parts of the new born baby to ease the passage of childbirth.
From his research, he's found that people from Senegal and the islands of Micronesia have some of the darkest skin tones in the world. That's typical in countries close the equator, where the dark pigment melanin protects against UV damage from the sun's rays.
Asian skin has a thicker dermis than white skin, meaning it contains more collagen. Research from 2019 noted that Asian females may not notice wrinkles until they reach their 50s.
Traditionally, Asians have been thought to age more gracefully than Caucasians. The resistance to aging in the Asian patient was credited to the thicker dermis of Asian skin that contains greater collagen and the darker pigment that protects against photoaging.