Acne: Introduction to Management  |  How Acne Can Affect You  | Treatment of Acne in Africans

The Challenges of Acne Treatment in Africans

By Chinedu Akpa. B. Pharm. Freelance Health Writer and DLHA Volunteer. Medically reviewed by the DLHA Team

The presence of melanin in the African skin contributes significantly to some of the challenges faced by Africans when seeking help from acne. Some of these challenges are:

• Hyperpigmentation: The African skin releases more pigment (melanin) in response to acne inflammation. The problem is that these pigments remain after acne has cleared, resulting in dark spots. Though these dark spots can disappear on their own, it may take a long time, leaving acne sufferers vulnerable to the psychological effects.

• Keloids and scarring: Individuals with dark skin of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent are more likely to develop keloids than Caucasians. The incidence ranges between 4.5% and 16%. [12] The keloid and scars makes it difficult to use certain acne ingredients as they might be perceived to be harsh on the scar or keloid.

• Limited research and products: Lack of studies focused on African skin type and limited availability of products formulated for darker skin also pose a challenge.

Acne can be treated with a combination of standard treatments and natural remedies. The rationale behind this is to reduce the side effects of standard treatment, lower the rate of resistance, and improve overall treatment outcomes. Consider the combination of 0.05% tretinoin cream and 50% aloe vera gel. [13] It should be noted that natural remedies take longer to work.

Conclusion

Acne is a disorder that transcends gender, age, and race. Its psychological impact is so strong that some people contemplate suicide. While this condition cannot be permanently cured, there are a variety of oral and topical treatments available to help manage it. Post-acne management is difficult due to the unique characteristics of African skin. Over the years, many natural remedies have emerged with great promise, despite their slower onset of action.

References

1. Kouassi, Yao Isidorea,c; Kouamé, Menan Geradb; Gbandama, Koffi Kouame Pacomea,c; Touré, Mariama; Allou, Ange Sylvaina,c; Kouassi, Kouame Alexandrea,c; Kourouma, Hamdan Saraha,c; Kouamé, Kangaa,c; Kaloga, Mamadoua,c; Ahogo, Kouadio Celestina,c; Ecra, Elidje Josepha,c; Sangaré, Abdoulayea,c. Factors associated with the occurrence of adult acne in African tropical environment. Egyptian Journal of Dermatology and Venereology 44(1):p 27-32, January-April 2024. DOI: 10.4103/ejdv.ejdv_15_23. Available from here.

2. Sutaria AH, Masood S, Saleh HM, et al. Acne Vulgaris. [Updated 2023 Aug 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from here.

3. Thawabteh AM, Jibreen A, Karaman D, Thawabteh A, Karaman R. Skin Pigmentation Types, Causes and Treatment-A Review. Molecules. 2023 Jun 18;28(12):4839. doi: 10.3390/molecules28124839. Available from here.

4. Hazarika N, Archana M. The Psychosocial Impact of Acne Vulgaris. Indian J Dermatol. 2016 Sep-Oct;61(5):515-20. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.190102. PMID: 27688440; PMCID: PMC5029236. Available from here.

5. Sutaria AH, Masood S, Saleh HM, et al. Acne Vulgaris. [Updated 2023 Aug 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from here.

6. Bassett IB, Pannowitz DL, Barnetson RS. A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne. Med J Aust. 1990 Oct 15;153(8):455-8. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1990.tb126150.x. Available from  here.

7. Nascimento T, Gomes D, Simões R, da Graça Miguel M. Tea Tree Oil: Properties and the Therapeutic Approach to Acne-A Review. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Jun 12;12(6):1264. doi: 10.3390/antiox12061264. Available from here.

8. Nasri H, Bahmani M, Shahinfard N, Moradi Nafchi A, Saberianpour S, Rafieian Kopaei M. Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Review of Recent Evidences. Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2015 Nov 21;8(11):e25580. doi: 10.5812/jjm.25580. Available from here.

9. Kola-Mustapha AT, Raji MA, Adedeji O, Ambrose GO. Network Pharmacology and Molecular Modeling to Elucidate the Potential Mechanism of Neem Oil against Acne vulgaris. Molecules. 2023 Mar 21;28(6):2849. doi: 10.3390/molecules28062849. PMID: 36985821; Available from here.

10. Nurzy?ska-Wierdak R, Pietrasik D, Walasek-Janusz M. Essential Oils in the Treatment of Various Types of Acne-A Review. Plants (Basel). 2022 Dec 24;12(1):90. doi: 10.3390/plants12010090. Available from here.

11. Surjushe A, Vasani R, Saple DG. Aloe vera: a short review. Indian J Dermatol. 2008;53(4):163-6. doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.44785. Available from here.

12. McGinty S, Siddiqui WJ. Keloid. [Updated 2023 Jul 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from here.

13. Hajheydari Z, Saeedi M, Morteza-Semnani K, Soltani A. Effect of Aloe vera topical gel combined with tretinoin in treatment of mild and moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2014 Apr;25(2):123-9. doi: 10.3109/09546634.2013.768328. Available from here.

Related: Acne: Causes, Types, Prevention and Treatment

Published: August 20, 2024

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