Atopic dermatitis is a chronic condition with no cure that causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. Some people call it eczema, but these two terms are not interchangeable. Eczema is the name of a group of inflammatory skin conditions, and atopic dermatitis is the most common type. It can affect all types of people, regardless of age, gender, race or ethnicity, or skin color. In the United States, an estimated 16.5 million adults have atopic dermatitis. But not everyone is affected in the same way.
The Symptoms Are Not the Same for Everyone
When describing the rash caused by atopic dermatitis, many people, even doctors, say it is bright red. Although the rash looks bright red on white skin, it can look gray or purple on Black skin and skin of color. This makes it difficult to see and diagnose. Atopic dermatitis can also cause small bumps that are very itchy in people with darker skin.
Much of what we know about atopic dermatitis is based on how it affects white people. Medical books are filled with pictures of white people who have symptoms of this skin condition. There aren’t very many photos of Black or Hispanic people with the same symptoms for comparison. This means doctors don’t have a lot of experience diagnosing atopic dermatitis in people with darker skin, which can delay diagnosis and block faster access to treatment.
The Need for More Diversity
One way of eliminating the barriers to faster diagnosis and access to treatment that affect people with darker skin is by presenting a more diverse selection of people in medical books. The benefits, for doctors and patients alike, would be enormous. Doctors would know what to look for in their patients, regardless of their skin color. Doctors could diagnose people more efficiently, and early treatment might mean fewer severe and frequent flare-ups.
The medical community is also aware of the need to include more people of various races and ethnicities in clinical trials. It’s not an easy task. Doctors need to gain people’s trust and find the best way of letting them know when there are clinical trials that are right for them. The benefits of more research studies looking at how atopic dermatitis affects people with darker skin and which treatments might work better for them are huge. The faster people can be diagnosed, the faster doctors can start offering them effective treatments.
How It Affects Hispanic Children
These are some ways atopic dermatitis affects Hispanic children:
- Atopic dermatitis affects more White children than Hispanic children in the United States. However, there are more severe cases in Hispanic children than in White children.
- More Hispanic children than White children have to go to the emergency room because of a severe flare-up.
- Hispanic children are more likely to miss school because of a flare-up than White children. One research study found that in a 6-month period, they had to miss 6 days of school.
- In addition to its physical effects, this condition can affect Hispanic children psychologically and boost the risk of anxiety and depression.
Better Access to Clear Information Needed
A clinical trial found that:
- Hispanic people with lower salaries receive less health care, and where they live and work can have a lot to do with it.
- Some Hispanic people have trouble filling out the forms required to receive medical care.
- Some Hispanic people don’t understand the information they receive about atopic dermatitis care.
One of the biggest barriers Hispanic people in the United States face is access to clear medical information they can understand. Hispanic people must be able to understand their diagnosis and treatment plan well, whether they speak English or not. Advocate for yourself by:
- Asking for a medical interpreter to help you understand your diagnosis, even if you speak English. Remember, medical information can be difficult to understand. Even if your doctor speaks Spanish, you might need someone to help clear up some of the medical terms that might come up.
- Asking to talk with a registered nurse or someone in the hospital who can help you understand the type of dermatitis you have and what to do to get relief. Remember, your pharmacist can also answer any questions you might have about your prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
Show Sources
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SOURCES:
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: “Black and Hispanic children in the U.S. have more severe eczema than white children.”
National Eczema Association: “Eczema Stats,” “Eczema in Skin of Color: What You Need to Know,” “The Science of Eczema on Brown and Black Skin,” “What is Eczema?”
