2 mins
Sage advice
Aesthetic Medicine editorial board member Dija Ayodele shares an exclusive extract from her new book, Black Skin
DIJA AYODELE
Aesthetician Dija Ayodele is author of Black Skin: The Definitive Skincare Guide, owner of West Room Aesthetics in London and founder of award-winning educational platform Black Skin Directory (BSD). She is a also a GLAMOUR Magazine columnist, Trustee of the Beauty Backed Trust and Advisory Board Member to the British Beauty Council. Dija speaks regularly at both industry and consumer events. Follow her on Instagram: @dija_ayodele
Dija Ayodele, aesthetician, clinic owner, founder of Black Skin Directory and Aesthetic Medicine editorial board member, can now add published author to her list of accolades. Her 288-page hardback book Black Skin: The Definitive Skincare Guide puts skin of colour, and specifically, Black skin, firmly in the spotlight as an offering of her vast experience and clinical expertise in caring for the needs of melaninrich skins.
In the book, Ayodele, with warmth, wit and a no-nonsense approach, guides the reader through how to work out and understand their skin type, the best ingredients and products to suit a variety of budgets; and addresses the issues that Black patients commonly face with their skin, including hyperpigmentation, skin discolouration and increased darkness. Myths and misconceptions around dark skin are debunked as she seeks to help Black women understand and care for their skin in the healthiest ways possible while strengthening their relationship with their beauty identity.
Given that a lack of education around optimising the health of skin of colour is one of the biggest stumbling blocks to the advancement of aesthetic medicine in the UK, practitioners could also stand to learn from Black Skin.
Below, we share an exclusive extract from the book – Ayodele’s top tips on managing acne in dark skins.
• Only cleanse your skin twice a day using products suited to your skin type. Don’t be tempted to wash your face more than this; acne is not there because your skin is dirty.
• Avoid using harsh skincare products like black soap that strip your skin of oil and much-needed moisture. Despite what your village people say, black soap does not solve all skin complaints, and your skin will clap back by producing more oil.
• Don’t skip moisturiser; a lightweight oil-free serum or lotion with ceramides, cholesterol and peptides is enough to replenish the moisture level in the skin.
• Focus on gentle exfoliation to encourage optimal shedding of old skin cells.
• Don’t pick at your skin as this spreads inflammation and causes scarring.
• Manage your lifestyle and diet, especially your gut health. Eat a colourful plate, get enough rest, stress less, drink water, and mind your business.
• Use sunscreen to prevent hyperpigmentation from worsening.
• Toothpaste and Sudocrem are not appropriate spot treatments. It worked once for Folake in 2015 and it was a fluke.