Skin of African descent has unique characteristics, as well as some commonalities with other ethnic skin of color. Darker skin types tend to have more melanin and therefore, greater ultraviolet protection. This results in skin that ages more slowly. The melanosomes in dark skin have larger granules and are dispersed more deeply in the basal layer of the epidermis. Darker skin types also have larger…

A skin care professional’s expertise in treating Asian skin will set them apart from average practitioner. Asian skin has unique characteristics that should be considered during a consultation. We will discuss the anatomy of Asian skin, common disorders, treatment considerations, and homecare options below. Asian skin is more sensitive to environmental factors. Its pH is easily disrupted which can lead to barrier function issues. Generally,…

The term Latinx refers to people who originate from the geographical region known as Latin America. Historically, Latinx civilization extended north from South America into Mexico and eventually the southeastern United States, where it blended with indigenous American cultures. Latinx is often confused with Hispanic and conflated into one monochromatic group of people. Hispanic refers to people of Spanish-speaking origin. For example, Brazil is a…

Nordic skin originated in Scandinavia – in other words, Nordic skin is Viking skin. However, due to the Vikings’ tendency to explore and raid, Viking features can be found in many Northern European countries including Ireland, Iceland, and Greenland. Due to human evolution, people farthest from the equator developed very pale skin, particularly in the northernmost areas of Europe and Asia. They did not need…

Me Too, Black Lives Matter, Time’s Up, and the implementation of STEM in education are a few of the movements making progress in creating awareness about injustices, including the lack of equality in our society. Despite improvements, injustices regarding gender, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, and economic status still abound. Cultural awareness is a personal journey that starts when we understand that not everyone has…