Laser treatment for ethnic skin.

With the growth of new technology and products over the last 10 years, there has been an increased ability to improve a patient's appearance with procedures that can be performed in an office setting, including laser procedures. Demand for these procedures has grown among all ethnic groups. Patients with ethnic skin can have varying response to lasers. This factor should be considered when planning their treatment. After laser treatment, Patients with ethnic skin are at greater risk for laser energy absorption by melanin, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, and loss of pigment due to laser effects on melanin production leading to hypopigmentation. Therefore, any laser therapy should be planned carefully, especially in the treatment of patients with darker skin types.