title: What devices to use or not use in skin of color.
abstract: Lasers and light sources, as well as other energy devices, including radiofrequency, ultrasound, and cold-based therapies, can be used for treatment of aging, dyschromic, or texturally uneven skin. In patients with ethnic skin (ie, skin of color), energy devices are used more cautiously to avoid adverse events. The most common and concerning adverse event is postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Lower fluence, longer pulse durations, and careful device selection can mitigate the risk of scarring and pigmentary abnormality. Modified treatment approaches can allow physicians to safely treat patients with skin of color with energy devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. m-alam@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Murad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D010789:Phototherapy; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D000091762:Ethnic and Racial Minorities
keywords: cryolipolysis; ethnic skin; hyperpigmentation; hypopigmentation; intense pulsed light; laser; radiofrequency; skin of color; ultrasound