Treating Skin of Color

At Cultura, Dr. Eliot Battle and his team strive to provide excellent skincare for all cultures. We recognize that each individual is distinct and celebrate these differences.

More specifically, we carefully customize each patient’s skincare products and treatment plan based on their specific goals, health, and lifestyle history.

In fact, Dr. Battle strongly believes that our skin’s DNA (genetic makeup) is a key component to discerning which procedures and product will offer safe and effective outcomes.

Consequently, we understand that people with skin of color have unique dermatologic concerns and increased risk for certain side effects when it comes to cosmetic treatments.

Our extensive experience treating richly pigmented complexions and patients of all ethnicities allows us to address these issues and help you achieve smooth, even, and radiant skin.

How to Properly Assess Skin of Color to Determine the Most Appropriate Products and Treatments?

When determining safety and efficacy of a skincare product or treatment, it’s essential that we look beyond appearance and skin tone.

While a person may present as a Type III on the Fitzpatrick Scale, his/her genetic makeup can cause skin to react more like a Type IV or V when exposed to a laser or other aesthetic procedure.

Therefore, Dr. Battle recommends pairing an ancestry and skin DNA test with each patient’s analysis prior to treatment.

These findings will assist in maximizing the benefits and limiting the chance of complications from each procedure or product.

Which Dermatologic Conditions Disproportionately Affect Patients With Skin of Color and Require Expertise?

Patients with skin of color may be more likely to experience certain dermatologic conditions, which often require specific diagnostic techniques and provider expertise. 

Some of these unique concerns include: Hyperpigmentation (Dark areas); hypopigmentation (Light areas); pseudofolliculitis (Razor bumps); keloid scars; ichthyosis/Xerosis; ashy skin; flesh moles; alopecia; hair loss; eczema; and dry, itchy rashes.

Why Is Cutting-Edge Technology so Important in Treating Richly Pigmented Skin and Different Ethnicities?

In the past, many laser and cosmetic treatments were not safe for skin of color and posed a high risk for burns, scarring, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation.

Subsequently, Dr. Battle and his colleagues at Harvard pioneered a new generation of non-invasive and colorblind lasers that are safe and effective for skin of color.

Their research also led to further advancements in technology, allowing lasers to treat all skin regardless of color and ethnicity.

To learn more about treating skin of color and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Eliot Battle, please call Cultura in Washington DC today to schedule a thorough consultation.

Dr. Eliot Battle

CEO & Founder at Cultura Dermatology & Plastic Surgery

Dr. Eliot Battle, CEO of Cultura Dermatology, is a global leader in cosmetic dermatology and laser innovation. His Harvard research pioneered “color-blind” lasers, making treatments safe for all skin tones. A sought-after expert featured in TIME, Oprah, and The New York Times, he continues to advance inclusive, cutting-edge dermatological care.