Bruises On African American Skin

A bruise is a common skin discoloration that results from the breakage of tiny blood vessels leaking under the skin after a traumatic injury. Blood from damaged blood vessels beneath the skin collects near the surface to appear as what we recognize as a black and blue mark. This mark is from skin discoloration by red blood cells and their contents.

Among African or darker skin people, acne is the most common skin condition, with pigmentation anomalies (known as dyschromias) close behind. A common condition called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is experienced among people of color. The increase in pigmentation causes dark spots at the sites of inflammation.

The birthmarks are usually brown or bluish, and they may resemble bruises in African American skin, according to Dr. Alan Greene, M.D., FAAP. The birthmarks are caused by melanin and may have different tones, according to the spots’ location. Because they resemble bruises, it can be easy to mistake them for marks that are the result of abuse.

Depending on the person’s skin tone, the skin may appear dark brown or black in the area as the bruise forms. They may also notice a bump. Some research has reported that skin color is a significant factor in the appearance of bruises.

Melanin gives skin its color. Hyperpigmentation is one of the most common complaints of African American skin discolorations, but it is a problem that may be evident in any race. Hyperpigmention can cover small or large areas of the skin. Dark spots in skin are also commonly called freckles or age spots.

While it’s often assumed, but not necessarily true, not all African Americans have oily skin. There are several factors that contribute to oily skin and enlarged pores. Genetics is one reason but so is a hot humid climate and consumption of the wrong foods. Also, stress can trigger hormone’s leading to the overproduction of sebum or skin oil. When excess oils mix with dead skin cells, it can lead to blemishes.

They found that 13 percent of Black people and 30 percent of Hispanics had experienced sunburn in the past year. Redness, the telltale sign of sunburn for white people, might not be as evident on darker skin, but skin can still feel hot, tight, and painful. And even if you don’t burn, unprotected time in the sun can still result in damage.

African Americans and The Risk Of Getting A Sunburn. When you think of people who get sunburned, you typically think of a pale, freckled person maybe with light colored eyes, not someone with black or brown skin. But people with black skin can get a sunburn right along side their friend with pale skin.

"Rosacea is uncommon in African Americans, but it does exist," said Dr. Denise Buntin, adjunct associate professor of dermatology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, who has several black patients who suffer from rosacea. The usual symptoms of rosacea also occur in blacks, though some may appear differently,…

Other birthmarks appear when cells that give our skin color, melanocytes (meh-lan-oh-cites), clump together. That’s why newborns develop moles or café-au-lait spots.

Among many unique features you might notice is a birthmark, a different-looking spot on the skin that a baby is born with or develops soon after birth. There are two main types of birthmarks: pigmented, spots of skin that contain extra pigment (color); and vascular, which contain extra blood vessels that didn’t fully form.

Symptoms of pigmented birthmarks include skin that is abnormally dark or light, or bluish, brown, black or blue-gray in color. Discolorations of the skin may vary in size and can be smooth, flat, raised or wrinkled.

If you gently press on this birthmark, the color tends to fade. The color becomes more noticeable when your baby cries, becomes overheated, or feels irritated. Some babies have a few spots or patches, as shown here.

Aloe vera gel and lavender oil face pack for dark spots. This is one of the best treatments for scars, black spots and dark spots for dry skin especially. Aloe vera gel is rich in various vitamins and fatty acids that heal all skin troubles.

Dark spots on the skin—also known as hyperpigmentation, age spots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, depending on their cause—can happen at any time, but most often appear in middle age.

Hydroquinone is one product that may help rid the skin of dark spots, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hydroquinone is considered a skin-bleaching agent. By applying this topical medication directly onto dark spots, the melanin causing the blemish begins to break down and helps it to fade.

Pomegranate juice for dark spots. Pomegranate juice is rich in enzymes which help in treating the black spots on the skin. This juice will also benefits in removing the skin spots like dark spots, age spots and acne marks. Even pomegranate seed paste too can be used for black spots removal.