BABY ECZEMA LOOKS DIFFERENT ON EVERY SKIN TONE
Eczema Equality Guide
How to identify Eczema on babies with darker skin tones - a guide for newborn parents.
EVERY BABY DESERVES TO BE COMFORTABLE IN THEIR OWN SKIN
Black children are 1.7x more likely to develop eczema than white children.1 But when parents searched for images of baby eczema, the results were almost all Caucasian skin tones. AVEENO® Baby took action to create eczema representation on every baby’s skin.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF ECZEMA EQUALITY
Your baby deserves representation—whether Black, Brown, Asian or anything in between. Check out how the AVEENO® Baby Eczema Equality initiative came to life.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BABY ECZEMA
At AVEENO® Baby, we know eczema can look completely different on every skin tone. So, we created a resource that empowers parents of colour to further their eczema education, talk to their pediatricians, and get the nourishing care their babies deserve.
WHAT IS ECZEMA?
A skin condition that usually appears as an itchy, red patch on the hands, feet, backs of elbows and around knees, ankles and wrists.
SKIN DISCOLORATION FOR BABIES
A major concern for non-white eczema is the discoloration of skin that can last for months, even after the eczema is treated. It’s important to diagnose and treat eczema early and aggressively.
COMMON ECZEMA TRIGGERS FOR BABIES
Extreme temperatures
Irritants like soaps and detergents
Allergens such as dust mites, mold, and pet dander
BABY BATH TIME TIPS
Short daily baths with a mild cleanser can help reduce flare ups and soothe your baby’s skin. Gently pat skin dry — don't rub.
BLACK ECZEMA
Black children are 30% less likely to see a doctor for their eczema than white children.4
ECZEMA ON FACE
Discovered eczema on your baby’s face? Fear not. It typically appears on the forehead and cheeks.
BABY ECZEMA ON SKIN OF COLOUR
Redness can be a challenge to detect on darker skin tones, making diagnosis more difficult. Patches may appear darker than the rest of the skin, looking purple, ashen grey, or dark brown.
STOP THE SCRATCH
To prevent your baby from scratching, keep their nails clipped or put on cotton mittens while they sleep.
LIFE WITH ECZEMA
An estimated one in five Canadians will experience eczema in their lifetime. That means in a class of 30 students, six could have eczema – making it very common!2 Eczema is chronic, meaning that the condition can last for a long time. While there is no cure, there are ways to manage it including soothing skin regimens that can help break the cycle of dry skin.
EDUCATION GAP
Physicians have been primarily trained to diagnose eczema on white skin. In fact, less than 5 percent of the images in general medicine textbooks showed conditions on darker skin.3
MOISTURIZING TIP
Apply moisturizer to your baby's damp skin within 3 minutes after their bath.
UNDERDIAGNOSED
Eczema in Black babies is the second most frequent skin disease to affect African Americans, but experts believe it may be underdiagnosed.
TREATMENT RESOURCES FOR ECZEMA
SOOTHE AND PROTECT WITH THE #1 BABY ECZEMA BRAND
AVEENO® Baby Eczema Care products are formulated with natural colloidal oatmeal for clinically proven relief of eczema symptoms such as itch, dryness, redness and irritation. Hypoallergenic and free of fragrance, parabens, and phthalates – try the #1 pediatrician recommended baby skincare brand to give your little one the comfort they deserve!
*Always read and follow the label.
REFERENCES
1. Eczema in skin of color: What you need to know. National Eczema Association. (2022, April 29). Retrieved from
https://nationaleczema.org/blog/eczema-in-skin-of-color/
2. EczemaHelp. (2022, February 28). Eczema Society of Canada Youth Video series: eczema myths & facts. YouTube. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS2rmdE4ca0
3. Kaundinya T, Kundu RV. Diversity of Skin Images in Medical Texts: Recommendations for Student Advocacy in Medical Education. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2021 Jun 11;8:23821205211025855. doi: 10.1177/23821205211025855. PMID: 34179498; PMCID: PMC8202324.
4. Black Children Less Likely to See Doctor for Eczema Despite Being More Severely Affected. Pennmedicine.org. (2017, September 29). Retrieved from https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2017/september/black-chi...