Skin of Color Session: Dr. Taylor

Dr. Susan Taylor:
I just finished my presentation on photo protection, particularly as it relates to patients with vitiligo, hypopigmentation, and melasma. So here's the most important thing. It's critically important that you use a broad spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen. It could be an inorganic filter or an organic filter, but for our skin of color patients, particularly those who have melasma or hyperpigmentation, you want to make sure that the sunscreen contains iron oxide because that's going to protect the skin from visible light. Visible light can worsen hyperpigmentation. Now, if you have vitiligo or your patient has vitiligo, it's going to be important for repigmentation no matter what your underlying therapy is, that they have a little bit of sun exposure to really help stimulate melanogenesis in vitiligo. Once the patient experiences pink skin, that's when they need to then apply their broad spectrum sunscreen. Simple, easy facts about photo protection.