ABSTRACT

Cutaneous manifestations of photoaging in ethnic skin differ from those in Caucasian skin, with more pigmentary changes and less wrinkling. Ninety five percent of the visible signs of aging are caused by sun exposure, which begins in infancy and continues throughout life. Patients with darker skin tones are less likely to wear photoprotection on a daily basis because such products are marketed toward the prevention of skin cancer, which many darkly completed patients feel will not affect them. A history of treatment with isotretinoin should be obtained before the initiation of any surgical corrective procedure. For non-ablative skin rejuvenation, repeated monthly treatment intervals are necessary to achieve the desired effect. Combined modalities using different lasers and light sources in the same treatment session have been advocated. Fractional resurfacing is a new technology that involves the use of a laser to generate microscopic spots of thermal injury that are surrounded by healthy skin tissue.