An update on the management of facial hyperpigmentation
Is there anything to use other than hydroquinone?
Abstract
The multicultural landscape of North America is changing. The visible minority population in the United States is expected to reach 50% by the year 2050. Similarly, in Canada, it is projected that over the next decade, almost 1 in 3 Canadians will have Fitzpatrick skin types 4-6, with 60% of residents in Toronto and Vancouver being members of visible minority communities.
Although common skin disorders such as acne and dermatitis are prevalent amongst all ethnic groups, certain conditions such as dyschromias are seen more readily in patients with darker skin. In a U.S. study comparing the top ten dermatological diagnoses between black and white patients, pigmentation disorders were the second most common reason for black patients to seek dermatological care. This increased frequency of pigmentation disorders has also been observed in Asian, Latin American, African and in Afro-Caribbean communities. Disorders of pigmentation in Caucasian patients however, were not listed in the top ten of dermatological diagnoses.
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