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Racial Differences in Skin Function: Related to Claim Support

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Cosmetics

Abstract

Racial variability in skin function is an area in which data are often conflicting. The understanding and quantifying of racial differences in skin function are of importance for skin care and the prevention and treatment of skin diseases. A key feature that characterizes race is skin color: is deeply pigmented skin (black or brown) different than fair skin in terms of responses to chemical and environmental insults? Is skin care the same? Is there a different risk among racial groups to develop a skin disease after exposure to the same insults? The issue is difficult to define and the interpretation of pathophysiologic phenomena should consider not only anatomical and functional characteristics of ethnic groups, but also socioeconomic, hygienic and nutritional factors. Indeed, even though it is well established that all humans belong to the same species, many physical differences exist among human populations. These differences, appeared during the latest stages of evolution, could be due both to genetic and environmental factors [1]. This paper reviews and discusses recent findings as relates to claim support.

Modified with permission from [1]

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Authors
  1. E. Berardesca
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  2. H. I. Maibach
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Klinikum der Friedrich Schiller-Universität Jena Klinik für Hautkrankheiten, Erfurter Straße 35, D-07740, Jena, Germany

    P. Elsner

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, Surge 110, Box 0989, 94143-0989, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Howard I. Maibach M.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  3. Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen Hautklinik, Pauwelsstraße 30, D-52074, Aachen, Germany

    Hans F. Merk

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© 1999 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Berardesca, E., Maibach, H.I. (1999). Racial Differences in Skin Function: Related to Claim Support. In: Elsner, P., Maibach, H.I., Merk, H.F. (eds) Cosmetics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59869-2_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59869-2_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-64160-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-59869-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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