WHAT DOES ECZEMA LOOK LIKE ON BLACK SKIN?

Eczema can look different on black skin to white skin, and with eczema being more prevalent in those with African ancestry than European ancestry (apparently 19% of African Americans suffer from eczema, compared to 16% of European Americans – source), it’s something I wanted to include on this site.

While those with pale skin might have eczema that shows itself in a red/pink rash and dry patches that are pink in colour, on black skin dermatologists might see lesions that appear a pale violet, grey, ashen, red-brown or very dark brown. Because of this difference, eczema in black people can often be confused with other conditions and may be misdiagnosed. There’s also the tendency to develop pigmentary alterations of hyperpigmentation (darkening) or hypopigmentation (lightening) in black eczema patients, even once the dryness has gone.

As well as dryness and discolouration, black people are more likely to develop small bumps on the torso, arms and legs (papular eczema). Additionally, bumps sometimes develop around hair follicles and resemble goosebumps (follicular accentuation).

As with white skin, eczema on black skin can be very itchy and some people will have a large area of dry skin while others will only have small patches or swelling. The most common locations for eczema are the hands (especially the fingers), forehead, wrists, behind the ears, insides of elbows, face and eyes, scalp, and the backs of knees.