Cosmetic Treatments for Skin of Color: Report From the AAD Meeting

At the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Seemal R. Desai spoke about cosmetic treatment options for various disease states in patients with skin of color. Dr. Desai discussed using laser therapy and chemical peels in conjunction with topical treatments for melasma. He also noted that intense pulsed light may be a good option for lightening freckles and other pigmented areas in darker-skinned patients. Finally, he explained that acne in patients with skin of color can be treated with photodynamic therapy as an alternative to UV light, as it is not known to cause worsening of hypopigmentation.