The purpose of this article is to explore the differences between Asian skin and other types of skin, and how these differences impact on aesthetic treatments. The article defines what ethnicities are and are not included in the ‘Asian’ category, it discusses the anatomy and physiology of Asian skin, how Asian skin ages and the signs of ageing, before going on to discuss the most effective aesthetic treatments and those that should be used with caution.
Asian skin has different levels of epidermal melanin pigmentation compared to other ethnic skin types,1 and it is this pigmentation which influences the ageing process.2 This also has implications for the treatments used to address ageing and other aesthetic concerns. Practitioners must take account of the tendency towards post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and plan accordingly, taking detailed histories to determine Fitzpatrick…
