According to the Fitzpatrick scale, there are six different skin types ranging from skin type one, which is extremely pale, to skin type six, which is very dark.

Each skin type is unique and requires care specific to it.

For most with dark skin, for example, treating scars, dark spots or pigmentation is like taking one step forward and one step back. The challenge is to fade the dark marks without causing further hyperpigmentation, which happens when the skin is irritated.

One of the major causes of acne scarring is severe inflammatory acne that occurs deep in the skin. This can also cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), most commonly seen in areas where acne blemishes have completely healed but left a dark mark in their wake.

The most important thing to remember is that procedures that deal with pigmentation should always be conducted by an experienced professional.

Here are the best treatment options for evening skin tone and fading dark marks, according to the experts at Skin Renewal:

• Lasers: Certain lasers such as a long pulsed Nd: YAG can effectively and safely treat darker skin including skin type six. Laser Genesis by Cutera gently heats the epidermis and dermis, causing cavitation bubbles that disrupt the unwanted deeper pigment. This breaks it into smaller particles that then migrate towards the upper layer of the skin where they’re easy to remove with exfoliation.
• Superficial peels: A series of peels you can help you quickly achieve substantial improvement in pigmentation, while making your skin softer, smoother and more radiant.

• Transdermal mesotherapy: This particular treatment involves using electrical pulses and vibrations to transfer beneficial ingredients into the skin via its microscopic water channels. It can be useful in regards to treating pigmentation as prescription brightening products can be administered straight after the peels, when the skin is most receptive, improving the final result.
• Intravenous infusions: An intravenous infusion containing brightening antioxidants like glutathione work intracellularly to remove resistant pigment resulting in a more even and overall lighter-looking skin tone.
• Pigmentation serums: Recent advances in cosmetic formulation means topical treatments are now much more effective and make use of proven pigmentation-inhibiting ingredients like bioactive peptides.

Another condition common among darker skin types is dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN), which are benign growths (seborrheic keratosis) that often occur in a cluster on the face and neck. These small, non-cancerous brown or black-coloured bumps are sometimes mistaken for moles or warts.

At Skin Renewal, DPNs are successfully removed using a long-pulsed ‘Nd: YAG’ laser. This procedure is well tolerated and healing generally occurs within one week. Initially, having them removed might result in skin discolourations, but these usually fade quickly, especially if the skin is pre-treated with a pigment inhibiting agent.

Any laser that has a spot size smaller than the size of the spot being treated (such as the Nd: YAG laser by Cutera) can be safely used on darker skin types.

And there you have it.

Both Skin and Body Renewal are committed to the latest technological innovations and offer treatment for any skin type.

For more information on conditions and treatment options specific to darker skin types, visit the Skin Renewal website to set up an appointment with one of their dedicated doctors.