I work very closely with Olay in their product research & development efforts, and as a leader in recognizing the growing significance of the Hispanic population, they are including more and more Latinas in their studies. In the process, we’re learning about the unique challenges they face with their skin and how it reacts to the elements as well as the solutions – whether on the shelves or in development.

Latina skin complexion runs the full spectrum from very fair to very dark and everything in between. This is because overall we are looking at a mix of races with Hispanics. This mixture lends itself to particular issues with the skin. For instance, the number one difference with Latinas is that they tend to get more skin discoloration, and something that we call inflammatory pigmentation. Knowing this, if I have a young Latina patient with acne, for example, I would treat her differently from a fair white girl with the same problem – using products to prevent or improve the discoloration.

Latinas tend to get more severe acne, too, which can make the discoloration even worse. Exfoliation can help with the discoloration, but should be gentle and not too harsh compared to that used on other skin types – or it will exacerbate both problems.

Initial studies looking at Latina skin cells under high magnitude show that their skin also tends to be dryer than the general population. As much as we emphasize moisturizing for everybody, it’s particularly important for Latinas if they want to have healthy looking skin and protect it from the punishing environmental factors that will age exposed skin before its time.

In this case, Latinas can depend on the same products – those that contain the duo of antioxidants and the peptides that help penetrate the barriers of the skin to pump up the skin cells and reenergize the skin.

More than that, here are three final take-aways to help you get the most from your skin care regimen: 

• Moisturize and exfoliate on a daily basis or as needed. You should visit a doctor or dermatologist for serious problems, but there are products out there that can help you not get to that point. 
• Don’t wait until you’re 35 or older to start worrying about your skin like most patients. Good skin care starts when you are a child. If you’re a mother, get educated about protecting your kids from the sun and moisturizing their skin. 
• You don’t need the most expensive products to get the best results for your skin. Some of the most heavily researched products are also the most readily available and for a reasonable price.