Ask a Surgeon - Skin Resurfacing - I'm a dark skinned African-American male. I am considering having...

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I'm a dark skinned African-American male. I am considering having the...

Q:

I'm a dark skinned African-American male. I am considering having the microdermabrasion procedure. But all of the information that I have been told so far has been negative. I was told that the results are unpredictable. I have also read that this procedure can be used on all types of skin. I have a problem with acne scarring and would like to have it corrected. Please advise.

A:

Acne scars are a problem for people of all skin types.. With dark-skinned African-Americans, acne scars are an even more difficult problem. Microdermabrasion for these scars would be ineffective. The procedure only removes the top dead layer of the skin (the keratin layer). Acne scars are deeper than that. In order to improve the scars which extend into the dermis under the more superficial layer, the epidermis (including the pigment cells) and a part of the dermis needs to be removed. This is done with a laser or full dermabrasion. Although both can be done in African-Americans, they have to be done very carefully by someone with significant experience and with a three-month preparatory skin care regimen in order to prevent depigmentation (loss of skin color) or hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin). One other option is individual excision of the worst scars with care to prevent pigmentary problems postoperatively.