For all the jokes made about “ashy” Black skin, Eczema is nothing to laugh at for many people in the Black community, especially when they are still disproportionately affected. Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is an inflammatory skin condition marked by dry skin, rashes, scaly patches, or blisters. Leaving this condition untreated may disrupt your daily life with a lot of discomfort, as even mild cases can present with severe itching.
Doctors at Cleveland Clinic have found that people who suffer from eczema do so because of damaged skin barriers, which invites conditions for bacterial overgrowth.
Because most advertising for eczema cream is targeted to lighter-skinned audiences, it’s less known that on darker skin eczema flare-ups appear as darker brown, gray, or purple patches that may take several months to return to normal pigmentation.
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Some tend to confuse eczema with heat rash, which may present similarly with clusters of red bumps, but is less likely to become chronic.
Two of the most common factors for developing eczema are genetic and environmental. Genetic mutations are passed through generations, which may explain the differences in the severity of eczema between Black people, non-Black people of color, and their white counterparts.
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Environmental factors contributing to eczema development include the cleanliness of your space. Regularly clearing any dust or mold from your home will help curb the onset.
Dr. Ife Rodney, MD is a Maryland-based dermatologist who contributed her experiences as a lifelong eczema sufferer to SELF magazine in 2022. She first noticed symptoms of severe dry patches on her skin as a child, but it wasn’t until adulthood that she diagnosed herself.
She described the extreme discomfort of the flare-ups during her first pregnancy appearing as “thick, dark patches on my thighs that were so extremely itchy they woke me up at night. I’d scratch them so much and nothing gave me any relief.”
A warm shower provided very temporary relief, since the moment she stepped out of the shower the itchiness would only intensify. When a prescribed mild steroid ointment wasn’t quite giving the full relief she sought, she simplified her approach by making changes to her lifestyle and only using the topical ointment for flare-ups instead of for constant treatment. It was then she started to see significant improvements.
Dr. Rodney’s case is indicative of the ways eczema appears on the body throughout different stages of life. As a child, her eczema was mainly on her ankles and wrists.
In infants, it’s more commonly seen around the forehead and cheeks. In adults, the coverage increases and intensifies to include the upper arms and back.
As a rule of thumb, Dr. Rodney recommends avoiding long hot showers because they strip skin of its natural moisture. Always apply lotion just after a shower while the skin is most receptive to absorption, and make sure the lotion is fragrance-free.
Switching to fragrance-free lotions, soaps, and detergents reduces the risk of contact dermatitis, another form of eczema. This particular form of eczema may also flare up due to wearing wool or synthetic fabrics. It’s also why doctors suggest not engaging in activities that promote sweating while managing eczema symptoms.
Supportive organizations such as The Skin of Color Society offer resources and guidance for those who think they may have symptoms. A medical consultation is highly suggested if you think you might have symptoms consistent with eczema, as each case is treated according to the type and severity present during the examination.
Some patients require topical ointments, pills, or injections, and others may need more advanced treatment. Manageable lifestyle changes may include monitoring the way your skin reacts to certain foods like dairy, gluten, nuts, or fish.
