I was compensated by Med-IQ through an educational grant from Pfizer, Inc. to write about the signs, symptoms, and treatments available for eczema/atopic dermatitis in communities of color. All opinions are my own.
I’ve grown up dealing with eczema issues my whole life. Even the slightest change in the temperature and weather can make my symptoms worse. And since you’ll never be fully cleared of eczema in your life, it’s important to find ways to limit the symptoms to live your best life.
And now that I’m a mom, I started to notice that our boys were suffering from the same skin issues that I was. I knew that something had to give and fast.
I’m happy to state that I’ve found a way to help with my skin issues, as well as the skin issues for our kids. It’s been absolutely life-changing for us, as I hope it will be for you.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Atopic Dermatitis Care
There are several different types of eczema that people deal with and they tend to affect races and ethnicities more frequently. For example, for patients with darker skin types, atopic dermatitis can lead to light spots or hypopigmentation. The difference between eczema and atopic dermatitis is that atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition and is a lot more challenging to manage.
The good news is that with all the advanced treatments available, it’s a lot more manageable now, and you can get the help and care that you need. Also, due to the pandemic, there are ways that you can easily access care and prepare for telemedicine visits, too!
If you’re interested in learning more about how to treat eczema based on skin color, tune in to Jeannette Kaplun (Hispana Global) Facebook Live interview here via this link. This is an amazing resource to get educated more on the topic!
The Importance of Caring For Your Skin
Finding a way to properly care for your skin is key. The good news is that there are a few steps that we’ve taken in our house to take care of our eczema and atopic dermatitis issues. Since they worked for us, I’m hopeful that they’re going to work for you!
Be gentle when cleaning your skin
Don’t do a ton of abrasive treatments that are going to irritate your skin. Light soap and warm water can easily clean your skin well!
Avoid irritants in your life
Be aware of what is going to cause your skin to flare up. Read the labels of lotion, detergents, and even food items that may cause a negative reaction to your body.
Try Topical therapies
Use short-term topical corticosteroids to help with atopic dermatitis. You can also use therapies that don’t include corticosteroids such as crisaborole (Eucrisa®), topical calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus ointment (Protopic®), and pimecrolimus cream (Elidel®), and generic options. These may also be used in combination with systemic agents in more severe cases or if flare ups occur.
Be willing to try other options for severe atopic dermatitis
This can easily include Systemic therapies (moderate to severe atopic dermatitis) that include Nonspecific immunosuppressants such as systemic corticosteroids and other immunosuppressing therapies. New, systemic agents that target the underlying causes of atopic dermatitis are emerging.
Have an Eczema Plan and talk to your doctor
Having a plan in place to move forward about how you’re going to care is HUGE!
Seek care elsewhere
If what you’re doing isn’t working, reach out to your doctor and see if you can find help and options elsewhere.
Schedule a telemedicine visit so you can stay safe at home
By continuing your treatment plan, and not allowing disruptions in care, you can maintain better control of your atopic dermatitis. Since we’re living in the world of a pandemic where in-person doctor appointments can be challenging, you can visit the doctor without actually having to be in their office through telemedicine and “virtual” visits. Take pictures of your problem areas, verify with your insurance that they offer and will cover this service, have your medical history handy to talk about with the doctor, and be prepared to talk about how you’ve been dealing with your skin issues up to this point.
These tips and resources are what we’ve been doing and have noticed a huge difference in our skin and our lives. If you’re looking for a way to find relief in a way that can work for you and your entire family, I urge you to check out all the resources and information listed below to help!
You can find relief for all your skin pain points with just a little bit of effort on your part!
Med-IQ is conducting an anonymous survey and would appreciate your input. The survey will take less than 10 minutes to complete. Survey responses are shared only in aggregate. Your responses to these survey questions will provide Med-IQ with important information about your experiences with atopic dermatitis, which will help us develop future educational initiatives. Once you’ve completed the survey, you will have the option of providing your email address to be entered into a drawing administered by SOMA Strategies to win 1 of 10 $100 VISA gift cards. If you choose to enter, your email address will be used only to randomly draw the winners and notify them of their prize and to send a follow-up survey as part of this same initiative.
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The survey contains links to external sites. Any such links are provided as a convenience and for educational purposes only. They are not intended as medical or legal advice, nor are they endorsements of any organization.
Additional Resources for More Information
- National Eczema Association
- Eczema treatments: https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/treatment/
- Eczema in skin of color:https://nationaleczema.org/eczema-in-skin-of-color/
- Telemedicine and Teledermatology
- Preparing for a telemedicine visit:
- Photographing your skin for a teledermatology appointment:
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