Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) in the Black Community

Atopic dermatitis, also called eczema, is a chronic skin disease resulting in very itchy, dry rashes or patches.¹ The signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis can first appear either in childhood or adulthood. They often persist with a coming and going pattern for years with a large toll on the quality of life for patients as well as other members of their household.² Atopic dermatitis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin diseases.³ Research has shown that the risk for atopic dermatitis may be higher among individuals with skin of color.⁴ The reasons for this are still unknown but are believed to involve genetics, ancestry, social and environmental factors. This will likely be the subject of further study for a long time. For now, it is important to understand that atopic dermatitis may look and feel different in diverse individuals. This can sometimes make it difficult for doctors to diagnose and people may not fully appreciate the impact of this disease on people with skin of color.⁵

The DISCOVER clinical research study is looking at how an approved medication may work for people with skin of color who suffer from eczema. If you or someone you know has eczema (atopic dermatitis) that isn’t well treated by creams and is aged 12 years or older, click here to learn more about the study and see if you may be eligible to participate.

1. Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Chamlin SL, Feldman SR, Hanifin JM, Simpson EL, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 1. Diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2014; 70(2):338-51.
2. Eckert L et al. Impact of atopic dermatitis on health-related quality of life and productivity in adults in the United States: An analysis using the National Health and Wellness Survey. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Aug;77(2):274-279.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2017.04.019. Epub 2017 Jun 9. PMID: 28606711.
3. Weidinger S, Novak N. Atopic dermatitis. Lancet. 2016 Mar 12:387(10023):1109-1122. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00149-X. Epub 2015 Sep 13. PMID: 26377142.
4. ‌Brunner PM, Guttman-Yassky E. Racial differences in atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy, Asthma Immunol. 2019;122(5):449-455. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2018.11.015

5. Nomura T, Wu J, Kabashima K, Guttman-Yassky E. Endophenotypic Variations of Atopic Dermatitis by Age, Race, and Ethnicity. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(6):1840-1852.