The SkinticianTHE GIST:
A brief discussion about eczema and how it affects melanated skin.
THE DISCLAIMER
For those of you reading this that actually have eczema, you may already know the symptoms and the annoyance that comes with the skin condition. For those of you who have no clue and find yourself learning about the condition for the first time, please don’t think you are going to be able to self-diagnosis after reading this blog post. Just a little disclaimer, I am not a medical professional, nor is it within the scope of my practice as an Esthetician to diagnose medical skin conditions and diseases like eczema but that doesn’t mean that I can’t share what I know about the topic. Now that we got that out of the way, let’s start with the basics…
LET’S DISCUSS…
What is Eczema?
While there several different types of eczema known to the skin and medical professionals, the most common is atopic dermatitis; which is what I will be covering in this blog post. Atopic dermatitis eczema is an inflammatory skin disorder which causes itchy, scaly and cracked skin lesions on the face and body. On black and brown folk, these lesions look purple, dark blue and grayish in color.
In severe cases, these lesions can become blistered and create hyperpigmentation that lasts long after the flare-up has subsided. Roughly about 31 million Americans in the United States have atopic dermatitis. Based on that estimate about 20% of African American children and 7% of African Americans adults have some form of the condition according to the National Eczema Association.
Symptoms
Many with this condition report that the affected areas are extremely itchy, dry warm and swollen. The lesions are most commonly found on the torso, arms, and legs but can show up under or around the eyes and on the neck. For most black and brown people suffering from the disease, they will find small bumps on the inflamed site that looks like dark-colored goosebumps that will not go away. This is called papular eczema. If this type of eczema affects the hair follicle itself its called follicular accentuation. All in all, the physical symptoms are the same.
Causes:
A recent study has shown that eczema is an autoimmune disorder and not exclusively a skin condition as previously thought by the healthcare industry. Atopic dermatitis is an immune response as your body actively fights off bacteria and viruses. The proteins responsible for keeping your body in immune fighting shape, are called interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13), which sometimes mistake your body’s own tissue as infection and attacks, causing those itchy, unsightly eczema sores.
Diagnosis:
Only a licensed medical professional such as a dermatologist can accurately and legally diagnose atopic dermatitis. If you think you have the condition or know someone who is currently self-diagnosing, my best advice is to see a doctor or dermatologist right away. If left unmanaged the symptoms may become worse and spread to other parts of the body.
Photo Credit: Julian Myles
Medical Treatments:
Steroid Creams:
The most common medical treatment for the eczema condition is topical cream such as anti-itch medications or cortisone steroid creams. These require a prescription by a doctor and it’s likely those over counter itch creams you may have purchased in the past just won’t work as well. Though these prescriptive creams are effective, it’s not recommended for long term use since it may cause adverse reactions or overtime, no longer be an effective treatment.
Antihistamines:
Sometimes doctors will prescribe an antihistamine tablet to help keep the itchy sensation at bay. However, this is not the best solution long term either as it can create immunity rendering the drugs less effective over time.
Psychodermatology:
Another treatment that is gaining traction in the mainstream is psychodermatology. Psychodermatology combines the treatment of the modern-day practices of psychotherapy and dermatology as a way to best manage eczema relief.
At-Home Remedies:
According to the Skin of Color Society, you should avoid taking extremely hot or cold baths as this could further irritate the condition. Soaking for 5-10 minutes a day and applying an eczema safe moisturizer immediately after soaking will be a huge relief.
Products:
Look for non-scented, non-fragranced skincare products and avoid alcohol-based cosmetics at all costs. This mostly can irritate the affect areas causing anything from severe burning and itchiness. In my opinion, the best facial cleanser that is gentle enough for eczema sufferers is African Black Soap, but the real stuff, not the fake commercialized liquid and bar soaps sold in most drug stores. I sell these ancestral cleansing bars directly to my customers via the NWÄR Skin, Inc. skincare brand. But if you want to know more about the real African Black Soap, you can check out the ingredients in the traditional recipe here.
So there’s the brief low down on atopic dermatitis aka eczema. Do you have eczema or know someone who does? How do you manage your flareups? Tell me in the comments below.
My name is Chandra Davis and I am the owner of NWÄR STUDIOS, INC. and the creator of NWÄR Skin, Inc. I am also the sole author of the blog #ASKTHESKINTICIAN, LLC. and I am excited to share my knowledge, experience, and expertise on all things skincare as it relates to the melanin-rich. As the Skintician, it is my mission to create diversity and inclusion in an industry that has historically excluded people of color from the conversations of beauty.
