Oxygen facials are an excellent way of infusing your skin with revitalizing vitamins and minerals that help it look and feel its very best.  They are especially helpful for individuals with darker skin tones that suffer from skin conditions such as uneven pigmentation, acne and Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB).  The reason is that the oxygen facial dramatically improves the penetration and absorption of the active ingredients, therefore enhancing the clinical outcomes.

Skin conditions in darker skin tones

For the most part, skin conditions are color blind and are unaffected by a person’s skin type or tone.  However, there are some skin conditions that affect people with darker skin tones more frequently or with greater severity.

The reason has to do with melanin in the skin.  Melanin is the pigment in the skin that determines the skin’s color.  In the skin there are cells called melanocytes which produce melanosomes –  packets containing melanin.  Research has shown that all people, regardless of their skin tone, have approximately the same quantity of melanocytes in their skin.  However, the difference is in the size and distribution of melanosomes- the larger and more dense they are, darker the skin will be.  As a result, individuals with darker skin tones are more prone to skin conditions relating to pigmentation.

1.  Pigmentation issues in darker skin tones: When the body produces too much pigment, known as hyperpigmentation, dark spots are formed on the skin. One type of hyperpigmentation is called post-inflammatory and it can be caused by a skin injury such as a cut, a scrape or a burn. Individuals with dark skin are more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Oppositely, in situations where color is lost from the pigment, known hypopigmentation, white patches form.  All individuals with dark skin more susceptible to both of these skin conditions. 

2.  Eczema in darker skin tones:

Eczema is a skin condition characterized by a red rash that slowly develops and stays on the skin for a long time. Medically known as dermatitis, it can be caused by a wide variety of reasons such as allergies, skin irritation, dry skin, changes in temperature, stress and more. It can also develop as a result of an inherited tendency and is then called atopic dermatitis.

Research in the United States has shown that eczema is more likely to affect African American children than those from other racial backgrounds.  

3. Acne in darker skin tones:

Acne is the most common type of skin condition and approximately 85% of individuals between the ages of 12-24 experience some form of acne.  Acne develops as a result of overproduction of oil in skin, which mixes with the bacteria in the pores.  As a result, the pores are blocked, the skin becomes inflamed, and bumps/cysts form on the skin’s surface.  In dark skinned people, active acne can lead to hyperpigmentation and an uneven skin tone.

4. Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) in darker skin tones

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), refers to a skin condition characterized by bumps under the surface of the skin caused by shaving. PFB stems from ingrown hairs and it affects Black and Hispanic people because of the unique shape of the hair follicle. If pressure is applied to the bumps, they can become inflated or infected. PFB can result scars, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), and keloid formation.

Oxygen Facials for Darker Skin Tones

Oxygen facials have established themselves as effective beauty treatments that rejuvenates the skin and gives it a glowing and youthful look.  During treatment, a pressurized stream of highly-concentrated oxygen molecules is applied onto the epidermis- the outermost layer of the skin.  The oxygen boosts the amount of oxygen in the skin which improves its circulation and ability to regenerate.  During the treatment, serums containing skin rejuvenating vitamins and minerals are also infused into the skin and the oxygen facilitates enhanced absorption and efficacy of the serums.   Following treatment, the skin often feels more hydrated and radiant.

Skin Oxygenation with the NowMi Treatment

The NowMi treatment takes a novel approach to skin oxygenation.  Rather than applying oxygen externally, it stimulates the body to produce oxygen from “within the body” in the treatment area.   The oxygenation uses a scientific principal called the “Bohr Effect” which states that when there is a high concentration of C0₂ in the body, it responds by sending 0₂ rich blood to the area.  During the NowMi treatment, a C0₂ rich environment is formed on the skin’s surface as a result of a chemical reaction between the effervescent tablet and the nourishing gel.  The body then oxygenates the area from within.

During the NowMi treatment, the skin is infused with pure vitamin C, vitamin E and Hyaluronic acid. Vitamin C is known for its anti-pigmentary attributes.  Here is the technical definition from the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology:  “Vitamin C also plays a role as an antipigmentation agent. It interacts with copper ions at tyrosinase-active sites and inhibits the action of the enzyme tyrosinase—the main enzyme responsible for the conversion of tyrosine into melanin—thereby decreasing melanin formation. A clinical study examining the effect of a topical formulation containing 25-percent vitamin C and a chemical penetration enhancer reported a significant decrease in pigmentation caused by melasma after 16 weeks”. In more layman’s terms, the vitamin C helps curb the production of melanin and also prevents its from reaching the skin’s surface.  As a result it reduces hyperpigmentation.

Vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant that helps minimize skin discoloration.  It helps to minimize and protect against sun damage, liver spots and acne scars.  It has also been shown to lighten dark patches and even out the skin’s tone.

In addition to the oxygenation effect, the NowMi Pro treatment uses sonic energy.  The NowMi Pro device emits 6,000 sonic pulsations per minute which increases the efficiency of the oxygenation effect and also helps the nutrients to penetrate deep into the skin, optimizing the cell’s abortion of the active ingredients.

For more information on how the NowMi Pro treatment is used on darker skin tones, please watch the vlog created by blogger Sweet Angel

Conclusion:

Dark skin tones are more sensitive to skin conditions involving the overproduction or underproduction of pigment.  Oxygen facials can help darker skin tones by infusing the skin with nourishing vitamins and minerals that protect against hyperpigmentation.  The NowMi treatment uses a novel technology to oxygenate the skin from within and infuses the skin with vitamin C and E which have anti-pigmentary qualities.