To apply the Acne Cure program to Black skin, however, requires more care. Here are the specifics of the program for Black skin.

Step 1: Cleaning Away Excess Dead Cells

Remember that, on the one hand, the stratum corneum of Black skin tends to be thinner, while on the other, it tends to be denser. In addition, since the sebaceous glands in Black skin tend to produce more sebum, it is usually kept oilier.

Step 1 for the Acne Cure program breaks into two parts:

1. Cleanse your face thoroughly with a mild, oil-free cleanser. (Plain water will do if your face is not particularly dirty.)

2. Complete the cleansing with a 2 % salicylic acid wash. Be especially careful not to use a stronger solution.

Step 2: Removing the Clog

The second step of the Acne Cure program is exactly the same for Black as for White skin: Apply glycolic acid, using exactly the same method as described earlier.

While the treatment is the same as for White skin, Black skin enjoys a side benefit from glycolic acid. If your skin has suffered from post-acne discoloration, glycolic acid will probably improve the condition by blending the discoloration. Nothing short of surgery will make the scars go away. But with glycolic acid, they may retreat. In any case, the glycolic acid will be the effective second step in making sure that no new scars form.

We should add one minor caveat to the use of glycolic acid on Black skin. There is a possibility that, in stronger concentrations than we recommend gfycolic acid can bleach Black hair to a grayish tint. We doubt that this would occur at our proposed concentration, but we suggest nevertheless that you keep the product away from your hair.

Step 3: Stopping the Disease Dead in Its Tracks

The third step in curing acne in Black skin is similar to, but not quite the same as, that for White skin. That is because BP, the main reagent used for Step 3, may occasionally, leave brown spots on dark skin.

Thus, before you start, make certain that the BP product you have purchased is at a concentration that definitely does not exceed 5.00/0.:j Indeed, if you can find a product with a lower concentration, down to ,; as little as 2.5%, that would be preferable. At this level, the product remains fully efficacious but carries little risk of causing discoloration. The remaining risk will be further reduced if, before you, apply the BP, you make sure that your whole face is very wet from the ,: ice cubes.

Apply only a very thin layer of the benzoyl peroxide product. In even minimal quantities, BP will be effective in eliminating P. acnes, but the less you apply, the smaller will be the chance of discoloration. Then, gently but insistently, rub the product in all over your face, including those areas where you don’t have any acne. The reason for wetting the whole face and then applying BP over all its surface is , that, if you cover only part of it, you will likely “spillover” in some’ places and risk discoloration there. In any case, a massage of your whole face feels good even if you have to administer it to yourself.