Skin of Color

Serving the Bergen County and Tri-State Area – New Jersey & New York area.

Skin comes in many shades and depending on your skin color, there can be different issues that affect your skin. When we say “skin of color” we are usually referring to darker skin, various shades of brown, often ethnically African, Hispanic, Asian or mixed race.

These ethnic groups may have skin conditions and sensitivity requiring different treatment modalities from fairer ethnicities. At BAXT CosMedical^®, Dr. Rebecca Baxt and Dr. Saida Baxt and their skin care professionals have the education and experience in treating patients of various ethnicities with medical procedures and services that are effective for different skin types.

What are some of the common skin conditions and how are they treated at BAXT CosMedical^®?

Many men and women of color experience are sometimes frustrated by the “routine” medical and cosmetic dermatological care they have received as it doesn’t adequately address their specific conditions, and in some cases can cause damage to the skin. Some specific areas of concern are as follows:

Hyperpigmentation/Melasma

Hyperpigmentation/melasma are common conditions of darker skin patients. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) occurs after there is damage or irritation to the skin causing the skin to turn tan, brown or purple. Statistics show that over 65% of African Americans experience hyperpigmentation symptoms¹. It is a very common condition in skin of color. Learn more about Hyperpigmentation/Melasma.

At BAXT CosMedical^®, board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Rebecca Baxt and Dr. Saida Baxt treat hyperpigmentation by attacking it from many angles.

• We recommend to all patients, as always, excellent sun protection with sun blocks, hats, and sun avoidance.
• Milder prescription creams with chemicals are used to help fade pigment such as Retinoids, Glycolic Acid, Hydroquinone, Kojic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Vitamin C, etc.
• Stronger treatments utilizing; chemical peels with Glycolic or Trichloroacetic Acid.
• Advanced laser treatments, typically either Clear + Brilliant^™ often the Perméa^® handpiece, or Fraxel^® 1927 or 1550 depending on the patient’s specific skin condition. We also have Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) as an option. Most of our patients do a combination therapy to improve their hyperpigmentation/melasma.

Acne and Rosacea

At BAXT CosMedical^®, we offer the GentleMax Pro^® for laser hair removal. This advanced dual wavelength laser platform safely and effectively removes unwanted or excess hair. The GentleMax Pro’s YAG laser is safe and effective in removing hair in all skin types, including skin of color.

Darker skin patients occasionally develop rosacea, a chronic skin condition that starts with the symptoms of easy flushing and blushing. These episodes of flushing lead to the development of red lines. Some rosacea patients only have redness and other patients have pimples, and some have both. Learn more about rosacea.

At BAXT CosMedical^®, board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Rebecca Baxt and Dr. Saida Baxt pay particular attention to aggressive treatment to try to avoid any hyperpigmentation. If post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurs, we treat it very effectively with chemical peels as our first-line therapy. Some of the conventional treatments to address the flair-ups may also cause keloids and scarring of the skin.

Keloid/Hypertrophic Scars

Scarring is a common complaint of patients but it can be particularly difficult for skin of color. A Hypertrophic scar is a scar that gets elevated and is often red and darker than the surrounding skin. A Keloid scar is when the scar grows outside of the actual traumatized area and grows beyond the injured area (grows larger). The injury can be a minor as an ear-piercing or pimple to more extensive surgical scars.

At BAXT CosMedical^®, board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Rebecca Baxt and Dr. Saida Baxt aggressively treats scarring with injections and lasers and creams. This is a very common problem and can be treated in an easy office visit.

Skin Cancer

Darker skin patients still get skin cancer. At BAXT CosMedical^®, we offer a skin cancer screening to every patient as part of their initial evaluation. Skin of color patients should pay particular attention to their hands and feet when looking for suspicious moles or skin cancer. Dark streaks on the nails while usually normal, must be followed closely as they can also be a sign of skin cancer.

Hair Loss

Losing Your Hair? Here’s How to Hold on to It – Dr. Rebecca Baxt interviewed in AARO’s “Real Talk from a Sister”

The most important step to healing hair loss, regardless of its cause, is to see a dermatologist as soon as possible. But studies show most Black women don’t seek medical help. Rebecca Baxt, a board-certified dermatologist at BAXT CosMedical^® in Paramus, New Jersey, believes resources, time and embarrassment are to blame. “There’s a lot of different causes [for hair loss]. They’re hard to determine and it’s going to be impossible to figure it out on your own,” she said. “There often is treatment and when people come in late, it’s harder to treat.” It’s better to catch it early, whatever the problem is, and not wait for years to seek medical attention. Read full article

Hair loss for men and women can be devastating and has many causes. One specific type of hair loss is traction alopecia, in which mechanical damage to the hair follicle is caused by repeated tension or pulling. This is a form of hair loss that is common among African-American woman. However, traction alopecia can affect all ethnic groups and ages who wear their hair tightly pulled back.

Another common hair loss disorder is called Trichorrhexis Nodosa (TN). TN is characterized by hair breakage due to weak points in the hair. Causes include physical or chemical trauma to the hair; including, excessive heat, chemical processing, dyes, and other hair styling treatments that can cause hair damage.

Do not despair, hair loss is often treatable! It starts with a thorough consultation and physical exam looking for any underlying causes. Sometimes blood work must be done. Learn more about hair loss. Once a cause is determined, Dr. Rebecca Baxt and Dr. Saida Baxt can recommend a variety of medical treatments with injections and pills if needed, as well as topical medication and PRP Platelet Rich Plasma hair restoration therapy.

Laser Hair Removal

Can Skin of Color Safely Undergo Laser Hair Removal?
At BAXT CosMedical^®, we offer the GentleMax Pro^® for laser hair removal. This advanced dual wavelength laser platform safely and effectively removes unwanted or excess hair. The GentleMax Pro’s YAG laser is safe and effective in removing hair in all skin types, including skin of color.

The GentleMax Pro^® laser is an excellent laser to address a variety of facial aging and other cosmetic dermatological concerns and is the “gold standard” for the removal of unwanted hair.

Our board-certified dermatologists are experienced and trained to evaluate and treat patients of all ages from newborns to the elderly including conditions of the skin, hair and nails for all ethnic groups. For certain cosmetic procedures, we offer complimentary consultations.

At BAXT CosMedical^®, we deliver outstanding patient care and excellent customer service with the best technology available. We provide honest consultations and natural results. Let our family treat your family.

Please schedule your consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists by contacting us online or calling 201-265-1300 today.

¹Clinical Cases in Skin of Color, Editors: Love, Porcia B., Kundu, Roopal (Eds.), 2016.

*Results may vary and are not guaranteed.

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