Treatment for Skin of Color in Vancouver
PHYSICIAN-LED, INCLUSIVE CARE
At Shine MD, treatment for skin of color is approached with the understanding that deeper skin tones respond differently to lasers, heat, and inflammation and deserve care designed specifically around that.
The goal is safe, effective, confidence-building results for concerns like acne, acne scarring, and pigmentation, delivered through careful device selection and personalized planning.
Shine MD is one of the first physician led skin care and medical aesthetic practices in Canada to make an explicit commitment to treating skin of color. Founder Dr. Mona Khurana holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology. As a woman of color, her own experience with acne and scarring inspired a clinical model structured to provide the care she sought as a patient.
Skin of color can be treated safely and effectively — the key is choosing the right pre and post care protocols, devices and settings. Because melanin-rich skin is more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the pigmentation and uneven skin tone left after inflammation), lasers and laser settings must be carefully selected to ensure your skin is well cared for..
At Shine MD, treatment is built around pigment-safe technology (such as the Nd:YAG-based Aerolase, PicoSure Pro, Moxi, and Halo lasers), supportive skincare, and diligent sun protection. This makes it possible to treat acne, acne scarring, and pigmentation confidently across all skin tones — including patients on isotretinoin. Every plan is personalized to your skin type, concern, and goals.
Care Designed For Your Skin
Many patients with skin of color, you may have been told a treatment was “too risky” for your skin — or had a treatment elsewhere that left new pigmentation behind. That experience is common, and it’s the reason many patients with deeper skin tones delay care or give up on it altogether.
With the right expertise, melanin-rich skin can be treated safely and see excellent results. The difference lies in understanding how deeper skin responds — and choosing technology and settings accordingly. That understanding is the foundation of inclusive care at Shine MD.
Why Skin of Color Needs A Different Approach
Skin color is determined by melanin. In deeper skin tones, melanocytes — the cells that produce pigment — are more reactive, so inflammation or injury can trigger post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): areas of pigmentation and uneven skin tone that can linger long after the original concern has settled.
TThe clinical takeaway is simple: for skin of color, how a treatment is chosen and delivered matters as much as which treatment it is. Aggressive settings that suit lighter skin can provoke pigment in deeper skin — so at Shine MD, device selection, settings and protocols are modified specifically to reach your goals while protecting against unwanted pigmentation.
Concerns we treat in skin of color
Skin of color includes anyone with a background of pigmented skin — essentially every racial and ethnic background, including mixed ethnicity.
Acne is the most frequently diagnosed skin condition in Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients.
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation follows acne in the majority of patients with darker skin affecting roughly two-thirds of Black patients and over half of Hispanic patients.
Left unaddressed, this pigmentation carries a real emotional weight: in a multinational survey of more than 4,600 people, individuals with visible acne scarring were consistently perceived by others as less confident, less healthy, and less successful.
At Shin MD, we understand that aesthetics is a form of self-care, and we want our patients with skin of color to feel supported on their journey toward inner confidence.
Through dedicated training and experience, the Shine MD team has developed a strong understanding of treating pigmented skin — allowing us to modify pre- and post-care protocols to minimize the risk of pigmentation and ensure every treatment is suited to richly pigmented skin.
The concerns we most often treat include:
Most patients have more than one of these at once, which is exactly why a personalized, physician-led plan matters.
Laser Treatments for Skin of Color
Laser treatments are designed to create controlled and strategic injury to the skin. In doing so, light skin types often recover without consequence and follow a fairly routine post-treatment course.
For skin of color, treatment settings and protocols are modified so the laser treatments can have positive outcomes while minimizing stimulation of pigment in the skin. At Shine MD, we offer laser treatments that our experienced providers can use to dramatically improve the vibrance, texture, and appearance of colored skin.
For our patients with acne scarring and skin of color, laser treatments that are intended to improve texture can cause pigment formation in the upper layer of the skin. This pigment formation is called Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH). PIH is treatable and reversible.
PIH can be minimized with the use of pre-treatment and post-treatment lightening creams and the judicious use of sunscreen and sun avoidance. After a series of texture improving treatments is complete, PIH can be successfully treated with the Aerolase and PicoSure Pro laser. These lasers are research-proven to improve pigment, with results showing improvement over multiple sessions.
Melasma is another condition that is common in skin of color patients. The Melasma Clinic at Shine MD is dedicated to help improve patient outcomes and quality of life with respect to melasma and other pigmentary conditions. While laser treatments are often effective at reducing melasma, in some cases, they can lead to increased pigmentation. The combination use of skin care, chemical peels and lasers is frequently used in combination with medical management and judicious use of sunscreen and sun avoidance. All treatment plans are customized with thoughtful consideration of patient goals and expectations. Visit our Melasma Clinic page to learn more about the treatment of melasma and mixed hyperpigmentation at Shine MD.
Our skilled treatment providers can also modify the protocols of our BroadBand Light treatments, including Forever Young BBL™ and Forever Clear BBL®, so they can be performed on all but the darkest skin types. Our clinicians are focused on advancing the safety of treatments for dark skin, and ensuring our patients achieve the results they desire.
Please note our extensive list of treatments that are considered safe for patients with skin of color. As expected, treatment protocols are adjusted according to your skin type and some treatments are better than others for reaching specific goals.
Why Is This Important?
Skin treatments, scar treatments, and lasers can be performed at aggressive settings in lighter skin types with low or minimal risks of causing further scarring and hyperpigmentation. However, in darker skin types (examples being people of Middle Eastern, South Asian, Asian, African, South American, Hispanic or First Nations heritage) laser treatment settings need to be carefully selected to maximize results and minimize complications, such as post inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Pre and post care treatment plans and quality skin care are essential to improving patient outcomes. When performing aggressive scar or resurfacing treatments on skin of color, there is a balance between reaching treatment goals and stimulating pigment formation with the lasers. At Shine MD, our years of practice and extensive experience have helped us become leaders in understanding this balance and keeping your skin safe during your treatment journey.
Shine MD was founded on the basis of inclusivity. Dr. Khurana has been committed to seeking out treatments and developing protocols that optimize treatment plans in patients with skin of color.
How shine MD assesses skin of color
Every plan begins with a careful assessment that considers:
- Your skin type, tone and ethnic background — which shapes device and setting selection
- Your risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and any history of it
- Whether melasma is present — which impacts the treatment approach
- The concern(s) you most want addressed and your goals
- Your medical history and any current medications, including isotretinoin
- Previous treatments and how your skin responded
Because two patients with the same skin tone can still need very different plans, this expert assessment drives the recommendation.
Our treatment approach for skin of color
At Shine MD, treatment for skin of color combines pigment-aware technology, supportive skincare, and careful pre- and post-treatment care. Depending on your concern, a plan may include:
- Aerolase (Nd:YAG 1064 nm) — a gentle laser that can be used safely across all skin types, year-round, for active acne, redness, and pigmentation — safe for patients taking isotretinoin.
- PicoSure Pro and Moxi — for stubborn pigment and overall tone, with controlled energy suited to deeper skin.
- Halo Laser— for pigment, texture and scarring, with settings modified for skin of color.
- Radiofrequency microneedling (Potenza, Morpheus8) — safe in deeper tones for its controlled, targeted energy delivery.
- Subcision with PRP, and biostimulation with Sculptra — a layered, skin-of-color-safe approach to textural scarring.
- Chemical peels and medical-grade skincare — including tyrosinase inhibitors (such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, cysteamine, and kojic acid) to reduce and prevent pigment.
Sun protection and pigment-focused skincare are foundational to your treatment plan, they protect results and help prevent new pigmentation. Where appropriate, a test patch is used before a fuller treatment.
For moderate-to-severe acne scarring, some patients choose more aggressive resurfacing to achieve greater improvement.
In these cases — always discussed and consented to in advance — a controlled degree of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can sometimes follow. This is an expected, temporary side effect of the treatment rather than a complication, and it’s treatable and reversible with the right combination of care overtime.
What to Expect During Treatment
Your comfort and safety are planned for. Depending on the treatment, this may include a pre-treatment skincare phase, a test patch, topical numbing, and options such as cool air, Ativan or laughing gas to ease discomfort or anxiety for procedures like subcision. Your provider explains each step before it happens. As an experienced and compassionate physician, Dr Khurana and her team are well equipped to ensure your treatments are completed comfortably in-clinic.
Recovery, Downtime, and Aftercare
Downtime varies by treatment. Gentle laser and pigment-focused treatments involve little to none; resurfacing and layered scar treatments typically involve a few days of redness, swelling, or peeling. For skin of color, diligent sun avoidance and daily sun protection afterward are essential — sun exposure is one of the main drivers of post-treatment pigmentation. Your team will provide specific aftercare and skincare guidance and provide you with a supportive post care process.
Results and Timeline
Results are usually gradual and progressive. Pigment and redness often improve over a series of sessions; textural scarring is typically a longer series spanning several months. Individual results vary based on the concern being treated, skin type, the treatment plan, and your healing response.
Who is a good candidate?
Treatment at Shine MD may be right for you if you:
- Have facial rejuvenation and positive aging goals
- Have skin of color and a concern such as acne, scarring, or pigmentation
- Have been unsure where to find safe, knowledgeable care for your skin tone
- Are concerned about the risk of pigmentation from treatment
- Understand that results are gradual and often require a series of sessions
- Can follow aftercare, including sun protection
- Want a personalized plan built around your skin and goals
A consultation is the best way to confirm what’s appropriate for your skin.
Why Choose Shine MD For Skin of color
- A genuine, explicit commitment to skin of color — Shine MD is one of the first and only medical aesthetic practices in Canada to build its care specifically around treating melanin-rich skin.
- Physician-led expertise — Dr. Khurana holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology and has lectured on skin of color, acne, and scarring for companies including Sun Pharma, Aerolase and Sciton; she is an Aerolase Ambassador, Sciton Luminary.
- Pigment-aware technology and protocols — a broad range of devices, chosen and set specifically for deeper skin tones.
- Integrated medical and aesthetic care — combining medical management, energy-based treatments, and skincare.
- Lived understanding — as a woman of color who navigated her own acne and scarring, Dr. Khurana built this practice from the patient’s perspective.
- Honest, realistic counselling — no hype, no pressure, no promises we can’t keep.
From Patient to Practice: Dr. Khurana’s Story
Seeking definitive care for my own skin was not a simple process — there was no clear provider or pathway, and I couldn’t find a provider that felt fully confident treating my South Asian skin. A single Halo laser treatment changed that: it improved my pigment and texture safely, and it became the first device I chose for Shine MD.
I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Dermatology and, in 2020, founded Shine MD for patients like me — to be the confident, knowledgeable, skin-of-color–safe space I couldn’t find myself.
— Dr. Mona Khurana, MD
Real Results
Discover Our
Before & After Gallery
Want to see real patient results from our innovative skin treatments across skin tones? View our impressive before and after images in our photo gallery.
*Individual results may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is laser treatment safe for skin of color?
Yes — with the right device, settings, and expertise. Some lasers, such as the Nd:YAG-based Aerolase, can be used safely across all skin types. The key is choosing technology and settings that match your goals and are appropriate for skin of color.
What is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)
PIH is the pigmentation and uneven skin tone left after skin inflammation such as acne. It’s more common and longer-lasting in deeper skin tones — affecting the majority of patients with darker skin patients who have acne. PIH is reversible with the right combination of skincare, sun protection, and laser treatment.
Can you treat acne scars in skin of color safely?
Yes. Textural scars respond to layered, physician-led treatment such as subcision with PRP followed by resurfacing, with devices and settings chosen specifically to deliver safe treatments to your skin.
Will treatment make my pigmentation worse?
Careful device and setting selection is specifically designed to prevent unwanted pigmentation, and supportive skincare, sun protection, and (where appropriate) a test patch further reduce that risk. In some cases of moderate-to-severe scarring, patients choose more aggressive resurfacing to achieve greater improvement — and there, a controlled degree of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can sometimes occur as an expected, temporary side effect rather than a complication.
It’s discussed and consented to in advance, and it’s treatable and reversible with the right combination of care over time.
Some patients with skin of color have mixed pigmentation — both post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma at once. In these cases, improving the PIH (or using certain laser devices) can sometimes make the underlying melasma appear more noticeable.
This is why a careful diagnosis and a plan that accounts for every source of pigmentation matters — and why we may treat melasma alongside or before other concerns.
Do I have to wait six months after Accutane for laser treatment?
Absolutely not. In 2017, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery published a consensus statement establishing the safety of combining nonablative lasers and energy devices with isotretinoin. At Shine MD, we’ve advanced our practice to move forward with high-impact treatment plans without unnecessary delay — confidently and safely using Aerolase, microneedling, radiofrequency microneedling, Moxi, Halo, and PicoSure Pro in patients on isotretinoin.
How many sessions will I need?
It varies by concern. Pigment and redness may improve over three to six sessions depending on the severity of the pigment; textural scarring is usually a longer series over several months. Severe textural scarring treatment plans may take longer.
Is Broad Band Light (BBL) safe for my skin tone?
BBL is effective for lighter skin tones but isn’t appropriate for the deepest skin types, during isotretinoin use, or where melasma is a concern. For deeper tones, we favour the Nd:YAG-based Aerolase and other laser based options.
Do I need a referral?
Aesthetic treatments are elective and don’t require a referral. Medical management of active acne is covered by MSP and does require one. See our MSP referral information.
Skin of color can be treated safely and effectively. Since 2020, the team at Shine MD has effectively led treatment plans for facial rejuvenation, acne, acne scarring, and pigmentation and become a local and industry leader in skin of color care.
Ready to Discuss Treatment for Your Skin?
If you have skin of color and are looking for safe, knowledgeable care, the best next step is a personalized consultation. Shine MD can assess your skin, understand your goals, and recommend an approach designed around your needs, safety, and long-term skin health.
Discover Our
Before & After Gallery
Want to see real patient results from our innovative skin treatments? View our impressive before and after images in our photo gallery.
*Individual results may vary.
