When it comes to taking care of our skin, we have to watch what foods and drinks we’re consuming throughout the day. Even drinking water often can lead to clearer and healthier skin. On the other hand, neglecting our bodies can often lead to skin disorders, such as eczema. While the disease affects most races of people, it’s especially more prominent in Black Americans.
Making matters worse, systematic racism makes Black Americans more prone to an increased risk of health complications. For instance, harmful environments can lead us to develop skin disorders that are unfavorable. Not to mention, high levels of stress can cause our skin to break out and develop an inflammatory response, such as eczema.
While statistics claim that we are at a higher risk of developing the skin condition, many health practitioners fail to identify its appearance on Black skin. Not everyone has the same skin type, nor does every race.
Former actress of the ever-popular Disney’s Sister, Sister series, Tia Mowry, revealed during a 2021 interview that she went decades before discovering she suffered from eczema. Now the actress has called for more Black representation in skin health.
RELATED: Tia Mowry on Living with Eczema: Misdiagnosed, But You’re Not Alone
The Actress Didn’t Know She Had Eczema Until Her 20s
The health system hasn’t been the greatest in providing effective treatments to the Black community. Most times, health care providers don’t provide us with the right diagnosis. By then, we’ve wasted hundreds of dollars on doctors who do not know how to treat Black health issues.
Tia Mowry even shared during an interview with InStyle that she went years without knowing she suffered from eczema, due to lack of representation. “I didn’t know because of the lack of information, educational tools, resources, and visibility on what it looks like on Black skin.” The Sister, Sister actress went on to say that she didn’t receive a proper diagnosis until her 20s.
Interesting enough, her Gynecologist was the one who provided her with the right diagnosis. At the time, Mowry experienced flare-ups from migraines and her endometriosis, which are also inflammatory-based conditions. Mowry shared with InStyle that her skin often peeled, which her gynecologist immediately identified as eczema.
Typically, the condition presents itself as darker brown, purple, or gray patches on Black skin. Additionally, the affected areas would appear swollen, warm, itchy, dry, or scaly. “After a flare-up, the affected skin may look darker or lighter than the surrounding area.” From there on, her doctor referred her to the right dermatologist. Fortunately, Mowry received the help she needed.
Mowry Hopes Her Story Will Lead Other Black Women To Speak Up
As the old saying goes, knowledge is power. Tia Mowry has done her homework on
